Charlottetown police conducted a helmet-fitting clinic to launch Operation Headway at Spring Park Elementary on Monday.
This is the second summer of Operation Headway, an effort to keep the city's roads as safe as possible by focusing on bicycle safety.
Police officers will be pedalling around town this summer. Bike patrol members will stop people without helmets and make sure people are wearing ones that fit properly.
Sally Lockhart, the chair of the Island Network for Injury Prevention and co-ordinator of Think First P.E.I., says Operation Headway is a combination of rewards, enforcement and education programs aimed at getting everyone to wear a helmet when cycling.
"If the police catch you wearing your helmet you'll get a reward but if they catch you without the coupon you'll get a ticket," she said.
Those ticketed will have the chance to get the fine waived by attending an educational helmet-wearing program, Noggin Knowledge, to learn why the law is in place.
"You might be an excellent cyclist but falls can happen to anybody and if your brain is not protected, unfortunately, we can't fix it or the spinal cord," said Lockhart.
On P.E.I., parents of cyclists under 16 are responsible to see their children are wearing a helmet. Once they reach 16, it's the individual's responsibility.
Deputy Chief Richard Collins said the Charlottetown police are asking motorists to share the road with cyclists and be aware of children on bikes because they're still learning the rules of the road.
"Both motorists and cyclists have to be aware of each other when sharing the roadways and show mutual respect while ensuring both comply with the Highway Traffic Act," he said.
A helmet should fit snugly and not move around. It should sit two finger-widths above the eyebrows with the straps meeting in a 'V' just below the ears, leaving no more than two fingers of room between the chin and strap.
Bike helmets should be replaced every five years or when it receives any strong impact, even if the damage isn't visible.
Just the facts:
- Ride predictably and defensively;
- Ride in a straight line at least one metre from the curb or parked cars;
- You may occupy any part of a lane when your safety warrants it;
- Never compromise your safety just for the convenience of others;
- Shoulder check when you turn or change lanes;
- Give pedestrians the right-of-way;
- Dress to be visible;
- Keep your bicycle well maintained;
- Drivers should remember to look behind them before opening their doors;
- Opening a car door into a cyclist's path is a traffic violation and could cause serious injury to the cyclist.
