Register Your Bike And Get a Free Helmet

It's one of those deals that seems too good to be true: register your bike with the police and get a free helmet.

But true it is. Through the generosity of YouthNet, helmets are being provided in adult sizes small through large to those who register their bikes with Maplewood and South Orange police while supplies last. (YouthNet is a nonprofit organization that provides afterschool enrichment to students in the South Orange-Maplewood School District.)

The Maplewood PD, South Orange PD, South Orange Municipal Alliance and YouthNet are promoting bike registration through several Bike Registration events over the course of the next month. The dates are  as follows:

• July 15, 22, 29 and August 3 at the South Orange Community Pool from 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
• July 27 at the Maplewood Community Pool from 11.00 a.m. -1.00 p.m.
• July 20 at DeHart Community Center, Maplewood from 11.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.
• August 3 in Memorial Park, Maplewood, directly behind the library from 11.00-1.00 p.m.

If you can't make one of the events, you can still get a helmet by registering at either South Orange Police headquarters or the Maplewood Police and Court Building.

Patch met Det. Ted Gnida of Maplewood PD's Youth Aid Bureau at the inaugural bike registration event at Maplewood Pool this morning. The event was a bit of a washout—literally, with this editor sitting under an umbrella with Det. Gnida while the rains came down. But Gnida did register at least one bike before 11:30 a.m.

"If your bike is lost or stolen, it's a good way to identify it," said Gnida of the registration program. "We find a lot of abandoned bikes and we run their serial numbers through our database but nothing shows up," he explained. Most people do not know their bikes' serial numbers. However, with the registration program—each registered bike gets a metallic numbered sticker (see picture)—the police will have your bike identification information on file.

The police are also promoting bike safety through the events. A bike safety pamphlet is being printed and bike safety tips are available online at the Maplewood Police Department's webpage.

Registrants should be aware that the helmets are still on order, but Det. Gnida says not to worry: organizers will make sure you get your helmet when they are delivered.