LTPD rewards youth demonstrating bike safety during August initiative

Lower Township, NJ – The Lower Township Police Department, in collaboration with Cape Assist and the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition (LTHYC), is placing a spotlight on youth bike safety throughout August.

The Bike Safety Campaign is a community policing effort where officers are on the lookout for young cyclists demonstrating safe biking practices, from wearing helmets to riding responsibly on neighborhood streets. Officers plan to reward these safety-conscious youth with vouchers for a free ice cream cone from Fleck's Ice Cream Parlor on Bayshore Road, acknowledging their commitment to the bike safety lessons taught in May at Lower Township’s Family Fun Night.

“We’ve seen how positive reward builds self-confidence and fosters motivation for our youth,” said Cape Assist Executive Director and CEO Katie Faldetta. “The Bike Safety Campaign encourages growth and good behavior, while reinforces positive relationships between our law enforcement and other local organizations. These community initiatives create a supportive environment for youth, which is the overall goal of Cape Assist and the LTHYC.”

This initiative builds on the success of the Lower Township Police Department's Bike Rodeo, held during the Township of Lower's Family Fun Night at Clem Mulligan Park in May. The event attracted over 80 youths and featured bike safety instruction from School Resource Officer Louis Bartleson, Patrolman First Class Michael Nuscis, and Sergeant First Class Michael Perry. Cape Assist also provided a lesson on decision-making and emphasized the importance of keeping their developing brains safe by wearing helmets. Four lucky winners received a bike, each equipped with a helmet and lights. The Rotary Club of Lower Township generously donated the helmets and lights. Algie’s Place, a bike maintenance and repair shop located in Wildwood Crest, donated the grand prize, a So Cal Flyer BMX bike. The Township of Lower contributed three additional bikes.

The LTHYC, a Cape Assist initiative, consists of partners dedicated to building resilience among local youth and families through various initiatives and events such as the Bike Safety Campaign and the Bike Rodeo.

“We aim to encourage healthy activities for our youth throughout the summer,” said LTHYC coordinator Jodi Corbett. “Biking is a favorite pastime, but as the season progresses, some kids may forget the safety lessons learned at the Bike Rodeo."

The LTHYC continues to plan and implement activities that foster connections between youth and trusted adults in the community—an essential protective factor against substance misuse. The Lower Township Bike Safety Campaign is made possible through a Drug-Free Communities grant.

For more information on the LTHYC or other Cape Assist initiatives, go to www.capeassist.org/community-initiatives.