As the weather warms up, Cedar Falls Public Safety is teaming up with 4 Queens Dairy Cream to offer a sweet incentive for families who practice safe bicycle etiquette especially when they are out enjoying the local trails.
Cedar Falls is home to over 100 miles of hard-surfaced, multi-use trails, an abundance of soft trails, and emerging water trails. Cedar Falls Public Safety Bike Patrol helps monitor the areas to ensure all users have a safe experience. Officers are identified by their bright yellow shirts which are marked with the words 'Bike Patrol' alongside the Cedar Falls Public Safety badge. This spring and summer, they will also be carrying coupons for free small ice cream cones from 4 Queens Dairy Cream in Cedar Falls. The coupons are part of the Cedar Falls Public Safety 'Cover Your Cones' promotion.
"Our goal is always safety so when Bike Patrol officers are out and see a child wearing their bike helmet, they may give them a coupon for a free ice cream cone," said Cedar Falls Public Safety Officer Kendall Schwan. "It's just an extra way to positively reinforce the importance of helmet use, which is particularly important for kids so they can continue the habit as they grow."
For ideal protection, Officer Schwan advises parents to always check to ensure their child's helmet is properly fitted. To do this, put on the helmet and rock it back and forth to make sure it does not move too much. After that, grab the bottom of your chin strap and if you can only fit one or two fingers through the strap, you are all set.
In addition to helmet use, Cedar Falls Public Safety also reminds all trail users to stay safe by adhering to the following guidelines:
- Stay on designated trails
- Keep dogs under control and on a leash of six feet or less (always clean up after your pets)
- Help keep the trails clean and preserved
- Teach children not to run ahead of bicyclists and always be on alert
- Bicyclists must keep to the right and call out when passing
To learn more about the Cedar Falls trails, visit cedarfallstourism.org/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/trails/.