DAPHNE, Ala. — Baldwin County’s interest in bicycling has skyrocketed in recent years with the creation of several trails, but the increased interest did not come with a bicycling safety curriculum in the schools.

According to data from 2009, Baldwin County was tied with five other counties in Alabama for having the most fatal accidents involving cyclists.

Daphne’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education coordinator, police Sgt. Robin Snider, said the current curriculum he uses in Daphne’s public and private schools has not included extensive bicycling safety material.

“As far as bicycle programs, the D.A.R.E program really doesn’t have anything.

“Me being the school police officer, it is just something that I am looking at now to find some current bicycle safety information and present that,” Snider said.

He is looking into other programs that he could bring in to enlighten students about biking safety.

“Currently, we don’t have a bicycle curriculum. I think McGruff has one that is probably what I will use. I am going to try and present that to the students. I am also going to check into Mobile’s bicycle program to see if they have anything that is up to date,” Snider said.

No matter how it happens, Snider said he will find a way to include biking safety.

D.A.R.E. is a program that puts a police officer in the schools to teach children life skills they need, particularly regarding avoiding involvement in gangs, drugs and violence. Officers around the country like Snider lead a series of classroom lessons throughout the child’s school career on “how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives,” according to the program’s web site.

In the past year, 5,993 students in Daphne received instruction from the D.A.R.E. program.

“It is a set curriculum. Each time we go in there, it is a lesson that comes from a book. The first lesson, you get to know your D.A.R.E. officer and then we have a lesson on tobacco, alcohol and different things like that,” Snider said.

Each city’s D.A.R.E. officer plans curricula around the needs of the community. In the past, Snider has not included bicycling safety, but following a fatal accident last week where a 14-year-old middle-school student was struck by a Waste Management Truck, Snider said it is apparent that there is a need for education.

“We will offer something. Sometimes the topic is kind of difficult to get into the schools. We are going to try. We will offer a bicycle safety curriculum in the next school year. Since something like this has happened, I think I will probably be doing a lot more bicycle safety classes this summer and this year,” Snider said.

While school is in session, Snider said the police department will try to ensure all the children are as safe as possible.

“During the school months, we will have patrol to be visible more in the school zones during the school times for the walkers, riders and the bicyclists,” Snider said.

Snider said everyone who plans to ride a bike should benefit from learning how to do so properly and safely.

Snider said there are a few key things every bicyclist should know.

 “Children should most definitely know more about bicycling safety before hitting the streets. When you have a place where you have a bicycle path or a sidewalk, there needs to be some type of bicycle education. It probably wouldn’t hurt to offer a community-wide course,” Snider said.

“The basics children should know about bicycle safety is to wear their helmets (and) know how to wear their helmets. For everyone, one of the biggest problems I have seen once we get used to riding the area, our safety zone kind of goes down. We may cross the street for years and there is never a car there or never a car turning this way. Once you get used to that, it is definitely a big problem. Everyone needs to learn the safety rules to stop and look both ways. Nobody who comes to an intersection wants to get off their bike and walk it across. They want to ride the bike across there. Basic rules like that, a lot of people don’t know about,” he said.

Because there are not sidewalks and bike paths on every thoroughfare in the city, Snider said cyclists should understand the rules of the road and be conscious of the vehicles they share the road with. Sidewalks were recently added to portions of Baldwin County Road 13, but the sidewalks did not extend to the intersection with Baldwin County Highway 64, where last week’s accident occurred.

“You have to be aware of the cars and just respect the cars. Take a double-look before you cross the intersection. If there is not a bike path there, you probably need to find an alternative route,” Snider said. “With the sidewalks going through the city, that is going to be a good thing. More bikers will use the sidewalks. Riding on the sidewalk is preferable to riding in the streets.”

Snider said not just children should be educated about bike safety.

“It is not just kids that have accidents on bicycles. Adults do, too,” Snider said.

City Councilman Bailey Yelding, whose district is near the location of last week’s incident that claimed the life of Daniel DiNardi, said he doesn’t know what else the city can do, particularly since the incident’s location was outside his district.

“I really feel bad about the situation for the family,” he said. “I don’t know that we can do anything else to prevent something like that as far as the city is concerned.”