Tedisco Launches 2013 Safe Summer Bike Helmet Program

Assemblyman partners with Clifton Park Supervisor Barrett, Glenville Supervisor Koetzle, local police, Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, Stewart’s Shops, Friendly’s and Ben & Jerry’s to encourage kids to wear their bike helmets for safety’s sake

Exercise safely this summer and get free ice cream to beat the heat. That’s the goal of the innovative Safe Summer Bike Helmet program founded by Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville). Tedisco is again partnering with 10 police departments in Saratoga and Schenectady Counties to distribute thousands of “good tickets” for free ice cream to reward children who wear their helmets while bicycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2010 in the U.S., 800 bicyclists were killed and an estimated 515,000 sustained bicycle-related injuries that required emergency room care. Roughly half of these cyclists were children and teenagers. About 26,000 of these bicycle-related injuries to children and adolescents were traumatic brain injuries from not wearing a helmet.

The Safe Summer Program aims to address these alarming statistics by using positive reinforcement to get all neighborhood kids into the habit of wearing their helmets for safe biking, in-line skating, or riding a skateboard or scooter.

With their bikes and helmets in tow, Tedisco joined Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett, Glenville Supervisor Chris Koetzle, local police, children and parents at events in Clifton Park and Glenville to kick-off the 2013 Safe Summer Bike Helmet program.

“Summer is here and so is the heat. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream and we all scream loudly for our children to practice summer safety when they ride a bike. The Safe Summer program reminds kids to wear their bike helmets while rewarding good behavior with coupons for free ice cream. When you promise kids that they’ll get a free ice cream cone for being responsible and wearing a bike helmet as our law enforcement do, and then you couple that with a free helmet for children who can’t afford one, that permeates the neighborhood and gives an added incentive for kids to stay safe this summer,” said Tedisco.

“Assemblyman Tedisco’s Safe Summer Bike Helmet program is an innovative way to encourage our youngest residents to practice proper bicycle safety,” Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said. “The Town of Clifton Park offers many excellent opportunities for active recreation and I encourage all residents to wear a helmet when biking or riding a scooter, skateboard or on roller blades.”

“Wearing a bike helmet is an important habit for kids to pick up that will keep them safe all year long. We’d like to thank Assemblyman Jim Tedisco for helping kids in Glenville and throughout the Capital Region understand the importance of wearing a bike helmet,” said Glenville Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle.

The Safe Summer program is made possible thanks to donations from participating businesses: Stewart’s Shops, Friendly’s, and Ben & Jerry’s. The law firm of Martin, Harding and Mazzotti LLP is also donating hundreds of new bike helmets to police departments in the Capital Region to distribute to children who need them.

Participating police departments where kids can receive free ice cream coupons and bike helmets include: Saratoga County Sheriff, Schenectady County Sheriff, Glenville Police Department, Saratoga Springs Police Department, Ballston Spa Police Department, Scotia Police Department, Galway Police Department, Schenectady Police Department, Niskayuna Police Department and Rotterdam Police Department. (Departments will be receiving the coupons in the next few days).

“Martin, Harding and Mazzotti is excited to join Assemblyman Tedisco in this wonderful program,” said, Dan Dagostino, Attorney from Martin, Harding and Mazzotti, LLP. “Accidents and head traumas are extremely preventable and something as simple as a helmet can be the difference between a scrape, a bruise and a serious injury. We are happy to work with the Assemblyman and local police departments to ensure that children have bike helmets and have a fun and safe summer.”

“This program is a true community partnership among businesses, law enforcement, government and parents and it’s a great model for how caring people can come together and promote a fun and safe environment for children. Safe Summer also provides positive interactions between law enforcement and kids,” said Tedisco.

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