“Put Safety First During Bike Wise Week”

15 February 2005

Manukau Road Safety Say

“Put Safety First During Bike Wise Week”

Wear a helmet and think safety. These are the messages being put across to local school children by Manukau’s Road Safety Team as part of National Bike Wise Week 2006, which takes place 26 February to 5 March.

“Tragic results occur when children don’t wear a helmet when riding their bike or their bike is unsafe and we want to educate children to protect themselves”, says Tania Tawhara, Road Safety Co-ordinator for Youth and Schools.

The Manukau Road Safety Team working alongside staff from Cycle City, Manukau on the Move, Auckland Regional Transport Association, Counties Manukau Sport, The Halberg Trust Sport Opportunity Team and Police have organised two Bike Wise Week school events.

They will visit Nga Iwi Primary school in Mangere on Tuesday 28th February between 9.15am-10.45am and Manurewa Intermediate between 8.45am and 10.15am on Wednesday 1st March to reinforce the safety message to children participating in this event.

Staff from Cycle City will be carrying out free “Warrant of Fitness” checks on bikes.

Other activities include checking the children’s helmets to ensure they are safe and worn correctly; an obstacle course designed to build children’s confidence which will contribute to making them safer on the road and The Halberg Trust will be there to assist students with a disability.

There are some great spot prizes and give-aways included.

“It is important that we encourage our children to “get on their bikes” this Bike Wise Week, at the same time ensuring that they do it as safely as possible. But its not just about our children, parents have a big role to play in educating and encouraging their children,” added Ms Tawhara.

ENDS

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