PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Bicycle riding is a popular recreational activity in Indiana; however, the state has limited resources for providing children with education on traffic safety and training on bicycle control skills. Observational surveys conducted in 1994 indicated that use of bicycle helmets by Indiana children was no more than five percent, demonstrating a clear need for bicycle safety training.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Riley Riders Bike Safety Smart Program was developed in 1995 through a collaborative effort coordinated by the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The goal of the program is to educate young bicyclists throughout the state in riding skills and traffic safety. This goal was fulfilled through implementation of these objectives:

• Create a bicycle safety program within the context of an overall child injury prevention program
• Build an education program that incorporated input and direction from youth in the creation process
• Create an educational course guide that would provide essential tools for planning, presenting, and evaluating a bicycle safety course
• Develop a reusable bicycle safety course "kit" that could be resupplied with course materials and shipped throughout the state
• Develop and produce a "family" of educational materials and products that could be supplied in large quantities to community educators at no cost

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Riley Hospital for Children, operating within the structure of their Children's Safety Smart campaign, developed a new topic-specific project to address bicycle safety education needs for children in the state. The hospital formed a collaborative partnership with the Indiana District of Kiwanis International, the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, the Think First Program at Methodist Children's Hospital, a local motor club, the Bicycle Action Project, the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana University School of Nursing to develop a bicycle safety course, training manual, and supporting materials. The partnership used several activities and strategies to achieve their goals and objectives:

• A 13 year-old Eagle Scout candidate was added to the team in order to obtain input and direction from the user group. The youth also co-taught the first bicycle safety course
• A training manual was developed by the partnership
• Five portable, reusable safety course "kits" were designed for shipping to locations throughout the state. Each kit contained ten traffic safety signs and as many activity books, brochures, information flyers and bicycle reflectors as would be necessary for a particular training
  

RESULTS In 1995, the bicycle safety course was piloted from June through November at four events that reached 619 children. In 1996, the course "kits" were loaned for use from March through October at 34 events across the state, serving 18 cities and more than 2,000 children. In 1997, the course training "kits" were loaned from April through July at 29 events in 16 cities, and reached 2,428 children.

FUNDING   Section 402: $7,000 CONTACT     Kentin D. Gearhart Clarian Health Community Education Department Riley Hospital for Children 575 West Drive, Room 008 Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 274–5000