To kick off Brain Injury Awareness Month, Temple University’s Department of Public Safety (TUDPS) and the Office of Risk Management (ORM) have teamed up with a local bike shop to give away free helmets and U-locks to students and faculty members who register their bike or scooter with the university.

The giveaway is in partnership with Kayuh Bicycles and Café and will take place in Room 220 of the Gittis Student Center between noon and 2 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

“We’re proud to participate in this important event that will help prevent injuries and deter crimes,” said Vice President for Public Safety Jennifer Griffin.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Brain Injury Association, approximately 1 million Americans are treated at hospital emergency departments for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) annually, with the highest rate of injury occurring in the 15-24 age group.  

“Data from the CDC shows that nearly half of all U.S. TBI-related hospitalizations are caused by falls. We encourage students that whenever they are riding a bike or scooter, they should wear a helmet,” said Debopom Mitra, assistant vice president of risk management.

Students are encouraged to come to register their bikes or scooters with TUDPS to get a free safety-certified helmet and U-lock while supplies last.

To receive a free lock, students and faculty should complete a bike registration form, which can be done online here. During the registration process, TUDPS will place two stickers on the bicycle frame to act as a theft deterrent. One sticker states that the bike is registered with Temple Police and the other has a unique identification number to help if the item is lost or stolen. 

“When stolen bicycles or scooters are recovered by the police, officers can quickly locate the owner if they are registered with our department,” said Griffin. 

Citywide, bicycle and scooter thefts have been on the decline over the last two years. According to data from the Philadelphia Police Department, the number of stolen bicycles and scooters dropped from 1,433 in 2022 to 1,308 in 2023. Griffin attributes the decline, in part, to more people using U-locks. 

“While preventing theft is never a guarantee, you have a better chance of keeping what’s yours with a U-lock,” Griffin said. “Students, staff and faculty should know that properly securing U-locks to their bikes and scooters is the best way to protect them against theft. U-locks are much more difficult to cut than cable locks,” she added.

"I registered my bike with Temple Police to keep my bike safe,” said first-year biology major Owen Jumper.

Jumper appreciated the free U-lock he received for registering his bike, which can be done all year at TUDPS headquarters. 

“It’s a very nice U-lock. It’s like the best lock in the game!” he said. 

Griffin added that just as important as having a U-lock is knowing how to properly secure the lock to keep a bicycle or scooter as safe as possible. Bikes should be locked from the frame to the rack, rather than just locking a wheel. Griffin also advised that students should lock bikes or scooters in a well-lit location and attach it to something that is stationary.

Kayuh Bicycles will also perform bike safety checks at the giveaway.