Bike Safety the Message of the Day in West Harrison

Harrison kids smiled as they showed off new bike helmets and followed a police motorcycle through an obstacle course on the basketball courts in Wednesday,

They might have been there for a free helmet and a look at the motorcycle, but they were also learning important lessons about bicycle safety.

The Harrison PBA (Police Benevolent Association) and Kiwanis Club of Harrison-Rye-Mamaroneck joined together for the event to hand out the helmets as well as water and pamphlets about safe bike riding. About three-dozen five, six and seven year olds were there in the early afternoon to take part.

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"Concussion safety is big nowadays," said Craig Faillace, who was representing the Kiwanis Club at the event. "It's definitely beneficial to start kids early, get them used to wearing helmets."

Harrison Police Officer Thomas Milone walked kids through a safety course, teaching them lessons about the importance of following traffic laws while on a bike.

It's an important lesson, not only are kids under the age of 14 required to wear a bike helmet in New York State, there are 54 bicycle related deaths in the state every year, according to the New York State Department of Health.

The Kiwanis Club and Harrison PBA host the event every year with the hopes of preventing those types of accidents locally. On Wednesday, the Kiwanis Club donated 250 helmets for any child who wanted to bring one home.

"We'll keep giving them out as long as the kids get the message that you've got to wear them," said Faillace. "It's definitely better to wear them than not to wear them."