Bike Safety Outreach
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Bicycle Helmets to The Home for Little Wanderers
With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign, children at The Home for Little Wanderers are ready for safe riding.
We made a special donation of 100 bicycle helmets to The Home this week, for children and young adults in The Home’s residential and special education programs in Roxbury Crossing, Plymouth and Walpole. The Home serves children and young adults who need family support because of abuse, neglect or other reasons. For more than 200 years, it has filled a critical need in the Boston area, keeping children safe and helping them transition into foster care, adoption or independent living as adults. The Home provides the basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing for children, as well as mental health services, counseling, special education and many other services.
Photo: Attorney David White stopped at The Home for Little Wanderers this week and delivered bicycle helmets from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. He was greeted by (left) Paige Oldaker, Leadership Gifts Officer; Johanna Lauer, Volunteer Mentor; and Taryn Marino, Manager of Volunteer and Mentor Programs. (next to David).
Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to keeping children safe through our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, our law firm has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one in Massachusetts. Our goal is to encourage children to wear bicycle helmets every time they ride to prevent serious head injuries in bicycle accidents or falls.
We learned about The Home’s need for new helmets from a volunteer. She told us children at The Harrington House in Roxbury Crossing were wearing old and worn-down helmets. Then we learned about the need at the other programs and were told the children and young adults love to ride bikes. We saw an opportunity to help.
“We were very pleased to make this donation, especially since the children really enjoy riding bikes,” Attorney David White said. “The Home for Little Wanderers is a lifeline for many children who have been neglected or abused in Massachusetts. While receiving services, the children should have the opportunity to ride bicycles, play and just be kids for a few minutes each day. We hope with brand-new bicycle helmets, they can ride safely and have a little fun.”
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Randolph Police
Breakstone, White & Gluck recently teamed up with the Randolph Police Department to help children ride their bikes safely and prevent serious head injuries.
We were pleased to donate 100 bicycle helmets to Randolph Police in August. Officers distributed the helmets to children who needed one at the Back to School Jamboree. The event was hosted by Randolph Public Schools and was held at the Randolph Community Middle School.
Photo: Attorney David White delivered bicycle helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign to Randolph Police Commander John Hamelburg and Officer Miguel Cruz.
As part of this event, Randolph Police Officer Kevin Donnelly and Sergeant Jeffrey Chaplin showed children and parents how to properly fit the helmets and answered questions. The community showed it cares about bicycle safety; Randolph Police gave away all their helmets on that one day!
Project KidSafe
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets since 2013. Our goal is to protect children from serious head injuries in a bicycle accident or fall.
We want children (and all cyclists) to wear a bicycle helmet every time they ride. Helmets are required for cyclists under 17 years old in Massachusetts. When children ride without helmets, they are at risk for a concussion or a serious head injury which can even lead to death. Consumer Reports recently called bicycle helmets “one of the smartest purchases you can make.” We agree!
Studies have shown the risks:
- According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 60 percent of the people who died in a bicycle accident were not wearing helmets in 2014.
- A 2016 study published by BMC Emergency Medicine reported that more than 286,000 people suffered bike-related head injuries from 2007 to 2011, more than in other sports, including football, which gets most of the attention.
Bicycle helmets are an important topic as children head Back to School. Children ride their bikes to school in many communities, in Massachusetts and across the country. Parents, please check to make sure helmets properly fit and are still in good condition. A helmet does not last forever; they must be replaced with wear and tear and as children grow.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Everett Police Department
Attorney David White delivered 100 children’s bicycle helmets to the Everett Police Department earlier this week. He got a warm welcome from Everett Police Captain Richard Basteri, Lt. Mark Zielinski, Officer Joe Gaff, Officer Jeff Gilmore and Detective Jason Leonard. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign to keep children safe while riding their bicycles. Now in our fourth year, we have proudly donated more than 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in the Boston and Worcester areas. This is our first year partnering with the Everett Police Department.
We are excited about this donation because Everett Police have already started giving out helmets to children who need one. The department has very strong community policing programs for youth. Every July, Everett Police run a very popular Junior Police Academy for middle school students. This was the 15th year of the one-week program, which teaches its cadets about training situations through classroom training, hands-on police tactics and daily fitness and marching drills. This year, the cadets also got to visit the Coast Guard station in Boston, Breakheart Reservation and participate in diving operations. The academy is fun for the cadets and they get to consider police work as a career. During the school year, officers have a “Cops Corner” initiative and join high school students for lunch.
Attorney David White delivering new bicycle helmets to Everett Police Captain Richard Basteri on August 24th
Attorney David White with Everett Police Captain Richard Basteri, Lt. Mark Zielinski, Officer Joe Gaff, Officer Jeff Gilmore and Detective Jason Leonard
Through the academy and other efforts, Everett Police have developed strong relationships with the community. We know officers will be able to put bicycle helmets in the hands of children who need them as we approach Back-to-School.
Video on How to Fit a Bicycle Helmet
If you are a cyclist or are the parent of a cyclist, visit our bicycle safety page. There is a video on the bottom, “Fitting a Bicycle Helmet,” by the National highway Traffic Safety Administration. With Back-to-School coming, now is a good time to check to make sure you have a helmet which properly fits and review the rules of safe bike riding with your family.
Wearing a bicycle helmet is required by law for cyclists under age 16 in Massachusetts. But it makes good sense for all cyclists and if you are a parent, your kids are more likely to wear one if you do as well.
It really is important. According to the bhsi.org website, almost three-quarters of fatal bike crashes involve a head injury. Study after study has shown helmets are the most effective way to prevent brain injuries if children fall or are involved in an bike accident. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, we have worked to prevent these injuries and are thankful for the support of Everett Police.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Bikes Not Bombs’ Youth Cycling Program
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a longtime supporter of Bikes Not Bombs, was pleased to partner up with the organization again this year, by donating bicycle helmets to the Girls In Action Program. Attorney David White recently attended the graduation ceremony.
Bikes Not Bombs is based in Jamaica Plain and has two popular youth programs: Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action. Both are terrific programs, which give children and teenagers a chance to learn bike repair, bike safety skills and make friends. At the beginning of class, the youth get to help select parts for a bike they will help build, eventually “earn” and get to take home.
Photo courtesy: Bikes Not Bombs
During the class, students are taught the rules of the road and to always wear a bicycle helmet. They get plenty of practice, taking group rides in the city. They are shown how to travel on bike lanes and navigate park and other areas. Earn-A-Bike is a co-ed program while Girls In Action is open to girls ages 12-18 and includes some field trips and activities outside the bike shop.
Bikes Not Bombs Safety Video
One of the Girls In Action programs created a safety video a few years ago. The first topic was bicycle helmet safety and the importance of wearing one every time you ride. Watch.
About Bikes Not Bombs
Bikes Not Bombs works locally and internationally, founded in 1984 as a response to the United States military backing of the Contra attacks on Nicaragua. The organization believes in using the bicycle as a vehicle for social change and each year, collects roughly 6,000 used bicycles and tons of parts from supporters in Boston and New England.
Some of the bicycles are used in its youth programming. But many bikes are sent to partner groups in other countries where a bicycle can increase access to economic opportunity, education, health care, and civic engagement. Bikes Not Bombs was founded in 1984 and has since shipped over 55,000 bicycles to partner groups in 14 countries in the Global South.
Breakstone, White & Gluck and Bicycle Safety
The law firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck actively supports youth cycling safety in Massachusetts. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one since 2013. If you are a cyclist, please remember to wear your bicycle helmet every time you ride. Here is a helpful video on how to properly fit your helmet.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 120 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Dedham Police and Dedham Bike Rodeo
Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 120 children’s bicycle helmets to the Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Bike Rodeo this year. This was our fourth year participating in the rodeo and Attorney Reza Breakstone was on hand to fit children for new helmets and answer questions about bicycle safety.
The Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Parks & Recreation Department organize the annual rodeo, which is always held at the Endicott Estate. We always expect warm weather, but this year was especially hot and we were worried children may not come out. There was no cause for concern. We still had many parents and grandparents bring children, and children from local childcare programs stop in. Attorney Breakstone still fit about 75 children ages 4 to 10 for new bicycle helmets. Dedham police officers will give the rest to children who need one.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign, which has now donated over 10,000 helmets to children in eastern Massachusetts. We started our safety campaign in 2013. The Dedham Bike Rodeo was one of our first events and it is always rewarding to return each year.
How to Fit Your Child’s Bicycle Helmet
If you or your child need help fitting a helmet, we want to share this video. Putting a bicycle helmet on your child is a critical step in protecting them from a serious head injury. By wearing a helmet, cyclists reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Other studies have shown it provides even more protection so it is important for all cyclists to wear one, every time they ride. Read More
Bicycle Helmet Giveaway at the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston
Attorney David White visited the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston on July 7th and fit over 60 children and teenagers for brand-new bicycle helmets donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. We set up our Project KidSafe tent as part of the center’s summer party, which was a lot of fun, with a DJ playing music, water balloon tosses and other summer games.
This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bicycle helmets to families served by the Tierney Center, which provides educational support and programming to youth and families in South Boston. The center’s goal is to leverage its neighborhood resources to ensure that each individual who walks through its doors has the tools to achieve his or her highest potential both in the classroom and within the community. To that end, it works with more than 30 other Boston agencies to bring resources to its residents. Nearly 60 percent of the households served by the center are non-native English speakers and 90 percent are single-parent households.
Claire Kaiser, the teen programs coordinator for the Tierney Learning Center and Attorney David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck.
To learn more about bicycle safety, fitting a helmet and the laws in Massachusetts, visit our bike safety page.
Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe Campaign Recognized for Bicycle Helmet Donations and Commitment to Safety at Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Awards Event
Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, the statewide program which teaches children how to walk and bike to school safely, honored 14 communities with awards at the State House this morning. Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign were also recognized for donating children’s bicycle helmets to the program.
Attorney David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck attended the 2016 Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Awards and is shown here with Jana Linhart, a school outreach coordinator with Massachusetts Safe Routes.
Lt. Governor Karyn Polito was the keynote speaker at the 2016 Safe Routes to School Awards ceremony, which was held in the Grand Staircase Hall. Other speakers included: Scott Bosworth, the chief strategy officer for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT); Michael Cahill, mayor of the City of Beverly and Diane Hanson, program director for Massachusetts Safe Routes to School.
Breakstone, White & Gluck has partnered with Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (Massachusetts Safe Routes) for the past two years, by donating bicycle helmets to children who need one and participate in the organization’s bicycle safety programs. In 2016, we donated 400 new bicycle helmets for children.
“We have already given away a third of the helmets this year. We are so thankful for their support,” said Nikki Tishler, of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), while addressing the event. MassDOT manages the Safe Routes to School program.
Breakstone, White & Gluck has made these bicycle helmet donations as part of our Project KidSafe campaign, which we launched in 2013 with a goal of keeping children and families safe. We have since donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children across Massachusetts, with help from organizations such as Massachusetts Safe Routes, Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, Bikes Not Bombs, CYCLE Kids and many local bicycle committees, schools and police departments.
Our law firm wants to help promote bicycle safety in Massachusetts. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the most effective way for cyclists to protect themselves from a head injury and is especially important for children in case of a bicycle accident or fall. Still, many children and families do not wear one and we want to help make a difference.
Massachusetts Safe Routes has been making a difference and protecting children for 10 years. It was one of the first Safe Routes programs in the country and today, its programming reaches over 333,000 students. It works with 51 percent of schools in Massachusetts, has 740 partner schools and is active in 199 communities. In addition to educating students, it works with school resource police officers and organizes fun events such as bike rodeos. It has also started developing programs to help children walk and bike to school safely in the winter.
If you are a parent, you may be familiar with Safe Routes programming. If not, visit the website for a list of important safety tips: http://www.commute.com/safe-routes-to-school/resources.
The 2016 Massachusetts Safe Routes to Schools awards list:
Exemplary Program North Region
Lincoln Elementary School, WinchesterExemplary Program South Region
Joseph H. Gibbons Elementary School, StoughtonExemplary Program Central Region
Burbank Elementary School, BelmontExemplary Program West Region
Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School, SpringfieldCommunity Collaboration
Milton Transportation & Traffic Sub-CommitteeMeasurable Impact
New Bedford Public SchoolsBiking All-Star
Leroy Wood School, FairhavenWalking All-Star
Letourneau Elementary School, Fall RiverWinter Walking and Biking
Marcella R. Kelly Full Service Community School, HolyokeRegional Superheros of the Year
Mass in Motion Coordinators, Lynn
The Supervisor of Health Services, Stoughton Public Schools
Newton Safe Routes to School Task Force Founder, Newton
Mass in Motion Coordinator, North Adams
Project KidSafe Update: Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Ashland Farmers Market and Tewksbury Police
Our Project KidSafe campaign recently stopped in Ashland and Tewksbury, to donate bicycle helmets to kids at fun events geared toward safety.
On June 5th, the Tewksbury Police Department hosted its Annual Bike Safety Rodeo at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Children came out to ride despite some rain early in the morning. They circled the parking lot, ran an obstacle course and enjoyed time with other kids – and the Lowell Spinners mascot, Canaligator. Cyclists of all ages were offered free bicycle safety inspections.
Children who needed a new helmet were offered one from Breakstone, White & Gluck and the Project KidSafe campaign. Tewksbury police officers partnered with us on the donation and fit the helmets for the kids.
“Please thank the attorneys for us for helping to keep our community safe!” Tewksbury police wrote us.
The Tewksbury Police Department actively works to protect cyclists of all ages with an annual Helmet Reward program. If an officer spots you riding a bicycle and wearing a helmet, you may just win tickets to a Lowell Spinners game. Local businesses provide support for the initiative.
Wearing a bicycle helmet is required for riders 16 years old or younger in Massachusetts, but it is good practice for anyone riding a bicycle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk for a serious head injury by 50 percent. Other studies have reported it offers even more protection.
On June 18th, the Ashland Farmers Market celebrated its 5th anniversary. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 75 children’s bicycle helmets for the event. We thank students and members of the community who took time to distribute and fit helmets for the kids.
The Ashland Farmers Market is organized by volunteers, with a goal of providing local farmers and small businesses a venue to sell goods to the community. Visitors can get produce and food there, as well as nutrition tips and suggestions on environmentally friendly practices for home and commuting. The committee has made bicycle safety a priority and this is the third year we have donated bicycle helmets.
About Project KidSafe
Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts through our Project KidSafe campaign. We launched our campaign in 2013, with a simple goal: to help children ride safely and prevent head injuries. This year, we are proud to donate helmets to children at community events in Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Somerville, Dedham, Worcester and other communities. We are also making donations to more than 10 local police departments.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 300 Bicycle Helmets to Help Somerville Students Ride Safe
Attorney Marc Breakstone visited Somerville yesterday to help distribute new bicycle helmets to fifth-graders. But first he wanted to talk about their commitment to bicycle safety. “Is everyone ready to take a pledge?” he asked.
Click the video to watch:
For the third year, Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 300 bicycle helmets to fifth graders in Somerville schools who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum, which teaches bicycle riding and safety. Attorney Breakstone visited with about 60 students at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park and helped hand out the new bicycle helmets and certificates of completion for the CYCLE Kids training program.
Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to helping children ride bicycles safely. Since 2013, we have donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign. Every year has brought a donation in Somerville, which actively promotes bicycle safety for children, through the schools, dedicated school resource officers and community organizations which promote safety events.
Our goal is simple: to encourage children to wear helmets and prevent head injuries in falls and bicycle accidents. Massachusetts law requires cyclists who are 16 years old and younger to wear bicycle helmets, though it is recommended for cyclists of all ages.
CYCLE Kids is a Cambridge non-profit organization which provides bicycle safety and nutrition curriculum for schools across the country. Locally, Cambridge and Somerville schools teach the curriculum in physical education classes.
Attorney Marc Breakstone with the fifth-graders from the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School in Somerville.
The Somerville fifth graders who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum learned how to ride a bicycle, safety skills such as wearing a helmet and using hand signals and nutrition fundamentals. Students are also encouraged to share their experience – and any fears they have – through essay writing.
“It can be scary for the kids who don’t know how to ride,” physical education Kris Savage said. “It is a brave thing for them to ride in front of their peers.”
Breakstone, White & Gluck coordinated the donation with CYCLE Kids, Somerville Public Schools and Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra. Attorney Breakstone, Officer Manfra and Kris Savage, physical education teacher at the Argenziano School, handed out the new Project KidSafe bike helmets to the children.
This year, we learned one of the fifth-graders who received a new bicycle helmet had taken his own steps for bike safety for his school and classmates. Caleb Piehl won the Saris National Bicycle Poster Contest last fall. As part of his prize, he won a trip to the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. in March, a new Scwhinn bicycle, safety gear and a great prize for the school: a new 20-rack bicycle parking system that can track users’ mileage.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!
Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Norwood Police, Norwood Bike Safety Day
With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck, Norwood Police distributed free bicycle helmets to children who needed one at Norwood Bike Safety Day over the weekend.
Attorney David W. White with Norwood Police Chief William G. Brooks III and Officer Paul Murphy. Photo courtesy: @ChiefBrooksNPD.
This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated helmets for distribution on Bike Safety Day, which was held at the Balch Elementary School. Bike Safety Day was organized by the Norwood Police Department and the Norwood Bike Depot, a local bicycle shop. Norwood Police school resource officers and the Mountain Bicycle Unit were out to meet the community.
Parents and children had the opportunity to learn how to fit a bicycle helmet directly from police officers. Bicycle safety inspections were also offered for all ages.
Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets in eastern Massachusetts. We launched our campaign in 2013, with a simple goal: to help children ride their bicycles safely and to prevent head injuries.
In Massachusetts, cyclists 16 years old and younger are required to wear a bicycle helmet. By wearing a helmet, cyclists can reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Yet many cyclists still do not wear helmets.
Breakstone, White & Gluck will make several bicycle helmet donations to local police departments this year. In recent weeks, we have made donations to the Cambridge Police Department as well as the Boston Police Department and others. These are important partnerships because local police departments regularly encounter children who are riding without helmets. By donating a bicycle helmet, we hope to encourage safe riding and create an opportunity for a positive interaction between police and youth.
Bicycle Safety Resources for Parents
We invite you to visit our website and view our bike safety page. There is a video on how to properly fit a bicycle helmet as well as articles on cyclists’ rights in Massachusetts and understanding how car insurance impacts cyclists.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!