To promote safe riding and the wearing of safety equipment, the Fillmore Police Department will be holding a Bicycle and Skateboard Safety Rodeo on Saturday, December 12th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event, which is free to the public, will be held at Two Rivers Park (River St. at D St., Fillmore) and will feature safety instruction, an obstacle course, bicycle and skateboard safety inspections, and proper helmet fitment. The park also features a BMX track and a skate park for all to enjoy.

Thanks to the generous help of the Fillmore Fire Foundation, Fillmore Police Department’s Citizens Patrol, First 5 Ventura County – Fillmore, Fillmore Lions Club, Fillmore Rotary Club, Fillmore Women’s Club, Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Ragatz Performance Bicycles of Santa Paula, and SkateLab of Simi Valley, there will be free helmets for children who do not have them and raffles for new bicycles and skateboards.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Millions of Americans ride bicycles, but less than half wear bicycle helmets. For example, a national survey conducted in 2001-2003 found that only 48% of children ages 5-14 years wore bicycle helmets when riding. Further, older children were less likely to wear helmets than younger children. In 2010 in the U.S., 800 bicyclists were killed and an estimated 515,000 sustained bicycle-related injuries that required emergency department care. Roughly half of these cyclists were children and adolescents under the age of 20. Annually, 26,000 of these bicycle-related injuries to children and adolescents are traumatic brain injuries treated in emergency departments.”

California state law (21212 VC) requires all bicycle riders and skateboarders, under the age of 18, to wear helmets.

The City of Fillmore Municipal Code (14.60.020 FMC) also requires that all bicycles be properly licensed. Doing so aids law enforcement in identifying owners of lost or stolen bicycles and, to aid Fillmore residents in complying with this ordinance, free bicycle registration will be available (with proof of residency), as well.

Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden