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Youths Ride Away With Safety Tips

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By B.C. MANION

bmanion@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

LUTZ - Preaching the importance of bicycle safety is nothing new in this community.

For about two decades, local organizations have come together to sponsor the Lutz Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Day.

The motivation: To teach children what they need to know to be safe, whether riding a bicycle or in a car.

This year's event, on Oct. 11 at Nye Park, drew about 200 people.

Besides receiving free bicycle helmets, children took turns on a bicycle safety course and had chances to win free bicycles.

Nineteen bicycles were given away, with civic groups and individuals donating the muscle-powered vehicles, said Auralee Buckingham, one of the event's organizers.

On the safety course, children learned the importance of watching out for cars that are exiting driveways and approaching intersections. They also practiced maneuvering their bikes, said Lt. Col. William Westcott of the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron, whose cadets managed the course.

"They're taught that stop signs are for them, too," Westcott said.

Terra Bone of Lutz brought her four children - Daniel, Adryana, Maggie and Natalie Bedingfield - to the event to pick up safety pointers.

"It's a good educational event," Bone said. She especially liked a display by the Florida Highway Patrol that indicated what can happen when a car flips over and a passenger is not wearing a seat belt.

The demonstration showed a car spinning around, with bodies flying all over - except for a person wearing a seat belt.

Bone thought the demonstration was effective.

"You can tell little kids this is what's going to happen, but until they see it, they don't connect with it," Bone said.

The goal of the demonstration is to help people stay safe, said Auxiliary Lt. Nancy Newbould of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Nancy Pedroza, who lives in North Tampa, said she was glad to bring her granddaughter, 7-year-old Desiree Mendez, to the bike rodeo.

"My granddaughter just learned how to ride her bike this summer, and I wanted her to learn the safety about riding a bike and the responsibilities - to make it safe for everyone else," she said.

The 7-year-old said she learned to pay closer attention to the possibility of cars approaching - and to be sure the way is clear before riding her bike through intersections with stop signs.

Desiree also was impressed by the seat belt demonstration. It is important to buckle up, she said, "so if there's a crash you won't fly out of the car."

Organizations that put on the bike rodeo and safety fair included the Lutz Community Council; the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron; the Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club; the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit; the Lutz station of Hillsborough County Fire-Rescue; God's Pedal Power Ministry; the Florida Highway Patrol; the Little Women of Lutz; Radio Disney, 1380 AM; and the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507.

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