California Office of Traffic Safety grant is helping fund summer safety series
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is launching a safety campaign for cyclists and pedestrians called “Be Safe Be Seen,” which includes a series of free workshops for adults that begin on Saturday and continue throughout Orange County all summer.
The campaign includes three programs: OC Bike Adventures, Operation Bright Lights, and Operation Be Seen.
- OC Bike Adventures includes several levels of safety workshops to appeal to cyclists of all abilities.
- Operation Bright Lights features distribution of helmets and bicycle lights, with a goal of reaching approximately 300 cyclists.
- Operation Be Seen is an effort to educate up to 5,500 pedestrians on how to stay safe while riding the OC Bus.
In Orange County, 25 percent of traffic fatalities involve pedestrians and cyclists, with most of the incidents occurring at night.
The program will feature multiple levels of bicycle safety workshops paired with fun rides, bicycle helmet and light distributions, and pedestrian safety education outreach.
As part of the campaign, five Orange County cities will host events that include adult bike-skills workshops and rides. The events are open to riders 18 years and older. (Riders 14 to 17, accompanied by an adult, are also welcome to sign up.)
Each class is free and includes a new bicycle helmet and set of lights. The classes feature technical tips with hands-on demonstrations and a bike ride to a destination highlighting each city. Classes are taught by League Cycling Instructors.
The event schedule is:
- 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 – La Habra, City Hall, 110 E. La Habra Blvd.
- 5:30 p.m. on July 25 – Orange, Civic Center, 300 E. Chapman Ave.
- 10 a.m. on Aug. 3 – Fullerton, Main Library, 353. W. Commonwealth Ave.
- 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 13 – Huntington Beach, City Hall, 2000 Main St.
- 9 a.m. on Aug. 31 – Tustin, Senior Center, 200 S. C St.
Funding for the safety program is part of a $75,000 grant OCTA received from the California Office of Traffic Safety with the goal of increasing safety and reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
To sign up for the events and for more information, visit www.octa.net/bike.
