For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 28, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Newburyport Police to Reward Kids For Cycling Safely During Back to School Season

NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Mark Murray is pleased to announce that the Newburyport Police Department will be issuing a different kind of ticket to children as they go back to school this fall.

To encourage bicycle safety, the Newburyport Police Department has teamed up with Simply Sweet to reward children “caught” by police officers wearing their bicycle helmets and following the rules of the road.

“Newburyport is a bicycle-friendly city, and many of our schoolchildren commute back and forth each day by bike. Our main concern is that children are using the proper safety behaviors while riding their bikes so that they make it to school and back home safely,” Marshal Murray said. “We thought this would be a fun way to motivate children to stay safe and to reward their efforts.

From Monday, Aug. 28 to Friday, Sept. 8. kids who wear their helmets and ride their bicycles on the correct side of the street will receive vouchers from Newburyport police officers for a free ice cream from Simply Sweet. Officers will carry coupons with them to give out to children who they see riding their bikes safely.

The Newburyport Police Department offers the following safety reminders from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet. Protect your head and brain, save your life.  
• Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.
• Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.
• Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.
• Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, dogs, pedestrians and other bicyclists
• Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.
• Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.
• Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.
• Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

The Newburyport Police Department wishes to thank Simply Sweet, Home of the $1 Baby Cone, for its generosity in providing the treats free of charge. Simply Sweet is located at 12 Inn St. in Newburyport.

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