June 23, 2017 -- “Be careful!” “Wear a helmet!” “Look both ways!” “Use your seatbelt!” “Slow down!”
School-aged children hear so many shouts and pleas of caution from their parents and teachers that they sometimes tune it all out. But hearing those same words from a new source, someone perceived as young and cool, can often help young people to really listen.
That’s what Ryan and Michael Fitch, 20-year-old brothers from Chicago currently enrolled at John Carroll University, hope at least.
The Fitches’ passion for bicycle safety started when they were just school kids themselves. Ryan learned the importance of wearing a helmet in the most dramatic way - when he was hit by a car while riding his bike as a seventh grader.
“Every doctor and nurse who walked into my room at the hospital asked me the same question: Were you wearing a helmet?” he recounted. “Luckily, I was. But the fact that they were all so concerned with that one detail really drove home for me how important it was.”
Ryan’s accident did no more than ruin his middle school cross country season. But it spurred a desire in him and his twin to share the importance of bike safety with young people everywhere. “I just wanted to turn a negative into a positive.”
In 2009, the pair organized their first bike safety event in the parking lot of a library in their hometown. They were only 13.
Their event grew over the years, spreading to schools and community groups and attracting corporate sponsorship. They put it on hold during their first year of college but Ryan saw an opening through his work with Heights High’s Student Justice Cadre as one of JCU’s Arrupe Scholars. Upon meeting Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon, he offered his program to students in the CH-UH district. She quickly suggested Gearity Professional Development School since it already has a long-established working relationship with John Carroll.
The brothers met with Gearity Principal Katrina Hicks, who toured them around the building. They were impressed with the school’s MakerSpace and with the fact that every student they passed in the hallways greeted Hicks with respect, enthusiasm, and -- more often than not -- hugs.
“You can really sense the community in that building as soon as you walk through the doors,” said Michael.
The young men organized two afternoon Bike Rodeos held in mid-May, one for third graders and one for fourth. The events started with a 30-minute presentation in the gym with a safety video and Q&A session.
“This is not something boring that’s hard to sit through,” said Michael. “We want to make being safe fun.”
Students came away with plenty of new and reinforced information. Brian Carothers, a third grader in Nancy Machmer’s class, was surprised to learn that it’s actually the law in some cities to have lights mounted on your bike.
Gabrielle Colquitt, a classmate of Brian’s, talked about the Red Light of Doom: “If you’re riding your bike in the street and you stop suddenly at a red light, but there’s a car behind you. And that car can’t stop as fast as you did. So then it runs into you and hits you from behind. That’s the Red Light of Doom.”
“That’s why you need to ride on the sidewalk,” added Brian. “Or way far over, close to the curb.”
In addition to the safety presentation, students got to enjoy an hour of outdoor cycling activities designed to improve their balance and coordination while riding. They rode 26 brand new bicycles on loan to the school district by the Heights Bicycle Coalition, a local non-profit that promotes cycling in the Heights.
Fourth grader Kendall Roberts thought the obstacle course “was really fun because you got to interact with the bikes and all the helpers. Everyone was super supportive so if you messed up, it didn't phase them at all.”
Students also enjoyed a visit from two University Heights firefighters who brought a fire truck one day and an ambulance the next.
“Going in the ambulance was the best part,” said Gabrielle, “because my mom’s going to be a nurse.”
Third grader Daija Ellis liked seeing the inside of the fire truck, especially all the tools they use. She also enjoyed the Figure Eight station, “even though I kept running into the cones.”
Michael and Ryan Fitch arranged for helmets to be donated to the bike rodeo, thirteen of which were raffled off to students. The brothers hope to grow their program, secure sponsorships from local businesses and organizations, and offer their services to more schools in the district next year.
“We’re fully aware that kids don't always wear helmets because they don't think it’s cool,” said Michael. “We want to teach them that they can have more adventures in life by being safe.”
The pair can count this year a success as third grader Antonio Quaranta said that the afternoon “will definitely make me a safer rider at home.”