5BBC - New York's Five Borough Bicycle Club

July - August 2007

NYC, DOT and Company Give FREE Bike Helmets

NYC Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik- Khan joined Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe to unveil the official New York City bicycle helmet — created by NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for the city. On Saturday June 16, the Department of Transportation distributed 1,000 free NYC helmets in Central Park.

The GET FIT-TED campaign is a collaborative effort to raise consumer awareness and promote bicycling in all five boroughs. The new NYC helmets offer riders safety and a unique urban style. Crisscrossed by an abstracted street grid, the bright red helmet is a stylish reminder that bikes have an important place on the city's streets. The simple yet modern design also speaks to the speed and flexibility bicycles offer as a mode of metropolitan transportation.

"New York City is one of the best cycling cities in the world and thanks to our friends at Target thousands of New Yorkers will be safer on their bikes" said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. "We're working hard to expand the city's cycling network and I hope to see a lot of red helmets on our streets and greenways this summer."

While supplies last, NYC helmets, which come in adult and children sizes, will be fitted and distributed, free of charge, at community events and at the DOT' Safety City locations. Anyone interested in obtaining a free NYC helmet can call 311 to schedule a fitting at a DOT Safety City location.

For more information, visit: www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bikeped/officialhelmet.html