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July 2004, #22
Summertime Safety for Everyone
It’s summer and kids are out of school and it’s
time to be outside. That means running, walking, skating,
bicycling and jumping on that favorite scooter to go play
with friends or on outings with family.
It’s the time of year when kids and families can get
out together and walk or bicycle: evening strolls for an
ice cream cone, day trips to the beach, or a quick jaunt
to play at the park. Alameda is rich in summertime family
fun!
Everyone should feel safe when enjoying the out of doors.
Motorists should remember that youngsters are short and it
is difficult for kids to see vehicles coming, as well as
for drivers to see them. Children’s peripheral vision
is approximately one-third narrower than an adult’s
and children can’t see a motorist approaching from
the right or left as soon as an adult can. Children also
have difficulty judging a car’s speed and distance,
and they often think that if they can see the driver, then
the driver can see them.
Children should be taught to stop at the curb and look Left-Right-Left
for traffic in all directions before crossing, even where
there is a traffic signal. Parents walking or bicycling with
their kids teach safety, health and well-being by example.
By getting out with one’s kids you are being a positive
role model, as well as showing (not just telling) your kids
how to safely walk and bicycle around town.
For families who look to explore on bicycle, remember that
helmets are a must for adults as well as youth. Children
learn life-lessons from adult behavior – if an adult
insists that a child wear a helmet and then doesn’t
put one on as well, what kind of message is that sending?
Head injury is the leading cause of death and/or permanent
disability in bicycle crashes. Bicycle helmets have been
shown to reduce head injury by as much as 85 percent and
the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.
Alameda is a terrific walking and bicycling community – pack
up some snacks, water, put on comfortable clothes and begin
to explore the island and neighboring parks. A little known
gem is the Martin Luther King Shoreline, part of the East
Bay Regional Park system, and easily accessed over the High
Street Bridge. Ride/walk 50 feet and turn right on Tidewater.
The access is a fire road right before Lesser Road. (for
a map visit http://www.ebparks.org/resources/pdf/trails/mlk_map.pdf).
Bay Farm Island has wonderful paths with breathtaking views
of San Francisco and the bay, Shoreline has an inviting path
where you can start at the bird sanctuary and end at Crown
Beach and have a picnic, watch the wind surfers, or quietly
sit in the sand. Alameda Point is the perfect spot for those
beginning bicycle lessons for the kids and you can stop and
watch the thrill-seekers at the youth-built Skate Park.
If all of us - motorists, bicyclists, and walkers - obey
the laws, pay attention to each other, and drive, bicycle
and walk like our families’ lives depended on it, we
will all enjoy a safe and fun summer. Happy Ice Cream!
Jeff Swatman is the Alameda Police Department Traffic
Sergeant. If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle
safety, please call him at 748-4508 extension 3342. John Knox
White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly
Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org)
and BikeAlameda (www.bikealameda.org).
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