Bicyclists in Acadiana are safer now after visiting the Third Annual Bicycle Safety Festival held in downtown Lafayette on Saturday morning.
Now that it’s summer, more people are going to be out on the roads on bikes and a few organizations in Lafayette want to make sure they’ll be cycling safely.
"I learned that you need to wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Sometimes if you fall off your bike you’re gonna need like elbow pads and knee pads. I also learned you should also look left and right on the road for cars so you don’t get run over," said 11-year-old Lake Charles resident Constance Wells.
Lafayette Consolidated Government, Bike Lafayette, TRAIL and the law firm of Broussard & David, LLC worked together to makes the activities free to the public which included bicycle helmet fittings.
"So, right now Kathy is gonna be tightening up under his chin. You want to be able to fit two fingers in there easily. But, you don’t want it to be too tight or else you’re just gonna be uncomfortable while you’re riding. And, if you look right on his ears where there’s a V. You want that V to go in front and behind just where it is right there, and that will help it not slide too far back on his head," explained Broussard & David LLC Paralegal Marie Nickle.
And, for nine-year-old Zane Francis getting a fitted helmet is pretty cool.
"It’s lovely. I like how it swerves. It’s cool, and I like the color red. It feels so cool because you can get a helmet specifically for yourself," said Francis.
Attendees of the festival also had the opportunity to get their bicycles inspected and registered with the police department.
"It’s really important that people register their bikes because in the event that they are lost or stolen, once they’re recovered, we’re able to put them back with their rightful owner," said LCG Chief Communications Officer Cydra Wingerter.
"I’d much rather have the world be safer and have less accidents for everybody in every industry, and this event is about trying to make less bicycle accidents," said Broussard & David, LLC Attorney at Law Blake David.
To further bicycle safety this summer, the Lafayette Public Library just installed a new bike repair shop on the bike lane on Congress Street adjacent to the main library.
