Greenville B-Cycle Teams Up With Local Partners On October Helmet Giveaway
October 6, 2014
100 free bike helmets available during October at four sites in downtown Greenville
GREENVILLE, SC – Greenville B-cycle is teaming up with the City of Greenville, Greenville Transit Authority and local bike shop Pedal Chic to launch a month-long bike helmet giveaway this October. Up to 100 helmets will be made available by Greenville B-cycle for distribution. Program participants can choose to keep the helmets for their continued personal use or return them to one of four distribution sites for others to use.
“We recognize that it’s an individual choice whether or not to wear a bike helmet. That said, we want to do what we can to make helmets available to riders who wish to wear them when using B-cycle or their own bikes around town.” said Greenville B-cycle Program Director Lisa Hallo. “We really appreciate the partners who have stepped up to serve as helmet distribution sites. Their convenient locations for downtown visitors and community members are key to making this initiative work.”
According to Pedal Chic owner Robin Bylenga, “We are happy to participate in the helmet giveaway program this October. We like doing what we can to support the downtown Greenville community.” City Council Member Gaye Sprague applauds the effort to put free helmets in the hands of visitors or community members who might want them. “Biking has become such a central part of the downtown Greenville experience,” noted Sprague. “If we can enhance that experience by offering bike helmets through a pilot program I think we should do that.”
According to Hallo, the month-long giveaway will serve as a pilot program for assessing community interest. If the program is popular, B-cycle is committed to working with the City of Greenville and other partners to explore possibilities for a permanent helmet distribution system.
Helmets for the pilot program were purchased at a highly discounted rate through Safe Kids Upstate, a childhood injury-prevention coalition led by the Children’s Hospital of Greenville Health System. “We encourage all bicycle riders to use a helmet for safety,” says Cynthia Fryer, Safe Kids Upstate manager. “Helmet use is the most effective way to reduce bicycle-related fatalities and injuries.As we celebrate 20 years of advocating for safety, we were excited to participate in this effort by offering discounted adult-sized helmets for the pilot program.”
The helmet giveaway will begin October 1 and continue through the end of the month or while supplies last. Up to 100 helmets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Helmets can be obtained at City Hall (206 S. Main St.), the Transit Center (100 W. McBee Ave.), Pedal Chic (651 S. Main St.), and Greenville Zoo (150 Cleveland Park Dr.) during regular business hours.
Greenville B-cycle is a partnership of Upstate Forever and the Greenville Health System.
About Upstate Forever
Upstate Forever is a nonprofit, membership-based organization promoting sensible growth and the protection of special places in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Its three program areas are Land Trust, Sustainable Communities, and Clean Air and Water. Founded in 1998, Upstate Forever has nearly 2,000 members, two offices, and a staff of 17. For more information, visit www.upstateforever.org.
About Greenville Health System
Greenville Health System (GHS) is committed to medical excellence through patient care, research and education. GHS offers patients a comprehensive network of expertise and technologies through its medical campuses, tertiary medical center, research and education facilities, community hospitals, physician practices and numerous specialty services throughout upstate South Carolina. It is also home to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, a joint effort of USC and GHS.
Among the largest healthcare networks in the Southeast, this not-for-profit academic health center has 1,358 beds and 14 medical residency and fellowship programs. Recent honors include being named one of the Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks, Top 50 Teaching Hospitals and 10 Best-led Hospitals.
