GRPD Detective Anthony Rivera, left, and Officer Fuquannah Holley at the bike class.
GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Police Department hosted a bicycle safety night at the public library Monday, Aug. 14. About eight children attended. They were all 10 or younger. There was one girl and most children were accompanied by an adult. Detective Anthony Rivera provided safety tips and the best way to keep a bicycle from being stolen. The information was good and could last a child a lifetime. Rivera was assisted by Officer Fuquannah Holley, a member of the GRPD bicycle unit.
Rivera said he was unable to arrive as early as he wanted because he was busy apprehending two bike thieves.
“Make sure you lock up your bikes,” he advised.
Cable and chain locks are easily cut with a bolt cutter, he said, so buy a u-bolt lock. These are better because the jaws of a bolt cutter do not open wide enough to take hold of it. A hacksaw can be used on a u-bolt but thieves generally do not walk around with hacksaws, he said.
A video was shown about the importance of wearing a helmet. Jello was effectively used to illustrate what happens to someone’s brain if they crashed a bike while not wearing a helmet.
“A helmet is the first line of defense,” Rivera said.
But if wearing a helmet seems “uncool,” he suggested making it cool by wearing one that matches the color of the bike. He said that is what he did. Rivera also spent considerable time on what to look for when buying a helmet and how to make sure it fits properly. There were numerous steps to a proper fit and he illustrated each one several times.
“Never just pick a helmet,” he said. “Test it for fit.”
He had other safety tips: be careful that pants cuffs and shoe laces do not get tangled with the bike chain; never wear flip-flops while riding; learn hand signals and use them, especially when riding in a group; ride with the flow of traffic; ride on the sidewalk if you are younger than 10; walk your bike across intersections.
One youngster said he did not ride on sidewalks.
“A lot of times sidewalks pop-up in Glen Ridge so I ride on the the shoulder,” he said.
Rivera said that moms and dads had more power than he did.
The children were also instructed to never ride with someone on the handlebars or on the rear fender. He used Holley’s top-of-the-line road bike to show why but lesser bikes often have the same amenities: components are easily and quickly removed.
Rivera was later asked about the safety of a child riding their bike to school.
“The town is difficult during rush hour,” he said. “As a parent, I think walking to school is better.”
He also said that nine out of 10 times, when he apprehends a juvenile for bike thief, they tell him that they have had a bike stolen from them.
“It’s sad; it’s reciprocal,” he said. “That’s what I hear constantly.”
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