Sun Valley : Bike Safety Program Targets Kids 10 to 15

Beatrice Betancourt, 11, was oblivious to the snickers and chuckles aimed at her bicycle. She and her pink two-wheeler were on a mission.

She was all set to tackle a bicycle safety obstacle course on the blacktop at her school--Richard E. Byrd Middle School in Sun Valley--when an oversized teacher hopped on her bike and gave her a flat.

Beatrice, a sixth-grader, and other students from the school donned helmets and mounted bikes at a kickoff celebration of a new bicycle safety awareness program for youths, sponsored by the city of Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Although Beatrice’s cute bike was temporarily disabled, when it was her turn at the obstacle course, she hopped on one of 11 spiffy new mountain bikes brought by the organization running the two-year bike safety pilot project: Bike L.A./Safety Training (BLAST).

The agency is headed by Tana M. Ball, former coach and competitor with the United States national cycling team, who started a similar bike safety program in San Diego.

The BLAST program uses videos, classroom instruction and practical demonstrations on bikes to teach youths basic bicycle safety skills. The program also reinforces the importance of complying with California’s bicycle helmet law, which requires that bike riders younger than 18 wear a helmet.

At Tuesday’s celebration, Ball cited statistics demonstrating that children 10 to 15 are more likely than any other age group to suffer bike-related injuries, accidents or death.

“Many of those injuries are acute because the children are not wearing helmets,” Ball said.

Ball also thanked avid cyclist Mayor Richard Riordan, who showed up to pledge the city’s support to the program.

BLAST is funded by grants from the MTA and the city and implemented by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Adohr Farms, milk providers for L.A. schools, will conduct a helmet safety advertising campaign on behalf of the program. Universal Studios Hollywood is also a supporter.