Scout promotes bicycle safety to kids

(by Christine Bryant, Eastside Editor - July 22, 2009)

Anthony Murdock might have been one of the only children growing up who didn't put up a fight against wearing a bike helmet.

The Reynoldsburg teen remembers knowing, even as a small child, wearing a helmet saves lives.

"My mom babysat all my childhood and she made us wear a helmet," Murdock said.

"The babysitting kids didn't always bring theirs and their parents said they didn't care. They got hurt a lot."

So when during the Fourth of July Murdock learned the city of Columbus had begun enforcing a new bicycle helmet law for anyone younger than 18 years old, his reaction seemed natural.

"I got the idea right away to help my community be aware of this and wanted to provide helmets for children who maybe could not afford them from the stores," he said.

The new law, which went into effect July 1, states children must wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, roller skates, in-line skates or a skateboard. If they are caught not wearing a helmet, they could be given a citation of up to $25 or a warning.

Although the law covers the city of Columbus only, Murdock set out to provide Eastside families with bicycle helmets at a low cost and promote bicycle safety.

A scout working toward his Eagle Scout rank, Murdock decided to sell 180 helmets at Bexley City Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25 and at the Reynoldsburg Police Department from noon to 4 p.m. July 26.

"I think it is a good service to the community to make them aware of how important they still are and that they are not about looks or how much they cost," he said.

The helmets cost $8.25, with proceeds going to the Bexley Community Garden Group.

"I am doing this to fund the second part of my Eagle Scout project, which is to build several cedar park benches for the new Bexley Community Garden group," he said. "They are a non-profit organization that has taken an abandoned field and turned part of it into viable land and are growing food and giving it to the food pantry."

Murdock is a member of Troop 826 out of the VFW hall on Waggoner Road.

If you know of any young leaders making a difference in their communities, send their names and contact information to eastside@columbusmessenger.com or by mail to Eastside Messenger, 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH 43204.

^ back to top