Bike Helmets Available Through New Initiative

RALEIGH, NC (November 8, 2016)…Community organizations are now able to participate in a state program designed to save the lives of children through the distribution of bicycle helmets to low-income families. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Bicycle Helmet Initiative is accepting applications for the program through Dec. 9.

“The primary goal of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative is to save lives,” Interim Director of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Division Ed Johnson said. “Helmets are the single most effective safety device available for kids on bikes, and we know that helmets can help prevent serious injuries and fatalities.”

Selected applicants may receive up to 100 helmets through the program, and helmets are required to be distributed during a bicycle safety education program. The initiative was previously open to government agencies only.

Applicants are encouraged to partner with other groups or agencies in the community to extend the outreach of bicycle safety awareness. Potential partnerships could include police and fire departments, parks and recreation departments, health departments, community centers, churches and other non-governmental organizations.

The mission of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative aligns with Governor Pat McCrory’s NC Vision Zero campaign, which aims to eliminate all traffic-related injuries and fatalities through coordinated efforts with public and private partners in traffic safety.

Funding for the Bicycle Helmet Initiative is made possible through sales of the Share the Road specialty license plate. The program has made thousands of helmets available to children since it launched in 2007.

For more information and to download the application, visit the NCDOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative website.

Awardees will receive the helmets by April 30, 2017.