Menasha Police Department Officers

Receive Top Award for

Safe Biking Program

In September of 2004 the Menasha Police Department received an award from the Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association recognizing Menasha's program as outstanding in comparison to other agencies with 20-50 officers. Here was the nomination for the program. If you live in the City of Menasha print out a brochure to see how you can bring this program to your neighborhood.

Bike Safety Video (High Quality) 48MB File for high speed

                              (Lower Quality) 8MB File for Dial up

Neighborhood Education and

Training Course

In June of 2004, the Menasha Police Department enrolled officers in a teaching safe bicycling course sponsored by the WI Department of Transportation. This day long training was a train the trainer program which aimed at encouraging the police departments to teach bicycle safety. It specifically addressed conducting a bicycle rodeo or partnering with other large scale events to address bike safety. The officers who attended started talking after their training and brainstormed a new program called Safe Bicycling Neighborhood Education and Training Course. This program brings bicycle safety right where kids need it most...in their own neighborhood. 2 bicycling officers, a duffle bag of small cones, 6-10 kids with helmets and bicycles and we have all of the ingredients for a fun time. In 2 short hours we are able to explain the 4 most common crashes which injure or kill child bicyclists, teach a quick and fun pre ride inspection, fit all helmets properly, conduct a skills course which emphasizes safe riding skills. It is all summarized with a police-guided ride through their neighborhood. On the ride, officers point out hazards like dangerous intersections, railroad tracks, blind driveways etc. for kids to be extra careful around. This program has received many compliments already. I hope this program grows larger and larger and our car bike crash statistics will begin to retreat. Bicycle Safety is a three fold process consisting of Engineering, Education and Enforcement. The Menasha Police Department Officers are trying to change the police role from being reactive in enforcement to proactive in education. This is a common sense program that just needed initiative and teamwork to pull off.