Columbus, Ohio – This summer, children across Ohio will be riding their bikes with greater protection thanks to the ongoing efforts of the “Put A Lid On It” Campaign. This statewide initiative is dedicated to helping young cyclists stay safe by putting free bicycle helmets into the hands of those who need them most.
With the backing of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and American Honda Motor Company, the campaign will provide 13,000 helmets to 179 organizations in 61 counties throughout the state. The helmets will be distributed through a variety of trusted community partners, including pediatricians’ offices, local health departments, police and fire stations, and schools.
Since launching in 2011, the campaign has already donated more than 100,000 helmets, helping protect children from potential injuries while biking. In addition to the helmets, the program offers valuable resources such as bike safety training materials and guidance for properly fitting helmets. These efforts are designed to make safety a regular part of every family’s biking routine.
“ODOT plays a key role in improving bicycle safety from providing funding and other support to construct safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians to supporting education and outreach,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “We’re proud to support the ‘Put A Lid On It’ campaign—it helps make helmet-wearing as routine as buckling a seatbelt and builds lifelong habits of safe riding.”
The importance of wearing a helmet cannot be overstated. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 1,337 bicycle-related crashes in the state last year. These crashes resulted in 23 fatalities and 189 serious injuries, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
“Wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of serious head injuries by as much as 85 percent—but right now, only about 10 to 20 percent of kids in Ohio wear one when they ride,” said Ohio AAP Chief Executive Officer Melissa Wervey Arnold. “That’s why this campaign is so important. We’re grateful to all of our partners who are working together to make biking safer for Ohio’s children.”
Beyond distributing helmets, ODOT continues its commitment to safe and active transportation by supporting planning, education, and funding efforts throughout Ohio. These initiatives aim to create safer, more accessible spaces for people of all ages who choose to walk and bike.
