Morganton Public Safety Recipients of the 2023 NCDOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative Grant

Morganton Department of Public Safety was notified this week that they were recipients of 100 bike helmets through the 2023 NC DOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative. These helmets will be a mixture of sizes and are given out through this grant to target low income families who may not have access to safety equipment. The goal is to reduce the risk of death and head injuries in children when they ride a bike. Morganton Public Safety was 1 of 285 organizations statewide to be awarded helmets, with a total of 23,000 helmets given out this year.

From the DOT's Ryan Brumfield, Director of Integrated Mobility Division "Wearing a helmet is an easy way to reduce risk of head injuries when riding a bicycle. We hope the Bicycle Helmet Initiative will help reduce bicycle injuries and help raise awareness about the importance of safe bicycling practices.”

Since 2018, this program has provided over 45,000 free bike helmets for youth riders in North Carolina. Research shows bicycle helmets prevent 60% of head injury deaths and they reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 85%. Unfortunately, less than half of all children wear a helmet when they ride a bike.

Stay tuned on social media and the city website for upcoming events where Morganton Department of Public Safety will be giving these helmets away to younger riders and providing bike safety information as well.  For further information concerning this grant, contact Lt. Tayler Alexander at talexander@morgantonps.org