Bike-a-Thon Planning - Safety For Participants
Bika-A-Thons are a favorite fundraiser because they are fun, get people outside and they can raise a ton of money. Of course, bicycle safety is paramount, and this is why riders and participants must have a helmet and a bicycle in working order, and you may wish to have a bicycle pump handy to assist folks to make sure they have proper pressure in their tires, as that is one of the most important key aspects to bicycle safety.
Remember no matter how much money your group raises, the event will be considered a failure if someone gets seriously injured. Do not risk safety."
You may wish to check with your local police department, as it may be possible to have a local community police advisor out for the event to inspect the participant's bicycles and safety requirements. This would be on a volunteer basis and participants could opt for the free inspection or choose not to. This will add credibility to your ride, and it is a fringe benefit to get more folks out to participate in your bike-a-thon. Folks that are there for moral support of a participant could bring their bikes for a free safety inspection, making it a family event.
If your event is going to have more than 50 riders then you may wish to stagger the start times in order to handle the traffic. After all, bike lanes are not wide like car lanes and many bikes abreast could take up several car lanes, as well as the bike lane. By starting the more advanced riders or avid cyclists first, you can prevent the slower "fun run type" riders from getting in the way or losing their self-esteem due to being passed over and over again by the well-seasoned riders. Staggering the start also prevents bicycle pile-ups at the start or excessive passing, as faster riders ride into the automobile traffic lanes to get around the slower riders. Continued success in your Bike-A-Thon Fundraising.
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Tags: ride, riders, bike lane, car lanes, car lanes bike
