Street Smarts officially kicks off with a family-friendly celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Kaiser Permanente Arena, 3-6 p.m. Santa Cruz Warriors mascot Mav’Riks, UC Santa Cruz’s Sammy the Slug and California Highway Patrol’s Chipmunk Chipper will lead young and old in activities that underscore safe rules of the road. There will be 15 booths with interactive games, free valet bike parking, bike safety rodeo and one free raffle ticket per person for prizes including Southwest round-trip air tickets, free car service, new bikes, walking shoes, reflective gear, and more.
The AT&T “It Can Wait” booth will showcase the effects of distracted driving though interactive simulators. Bike Santa Cruz County and Mav’Riks will teach bicycle hand signals to youth. Sammy the Slug will pose for official Street Smarts photos with kids while Chipmunk Chipper will help both drivers and non-drivers take a distracted driving pledge. Kids will experience the effects of impaired driving through remote control car games from Friday Night Live.
Santa Cruz Police Chief and officers will be present with motorcycle that kids can sit on and bike license and crossing guard info. The Community Traffic Safety Coalition/Vision Zero will demonstrate proper child passenger safety equipment and procedures. Ecology Action will host a bike safety obstacle course while Project Bike Trip/Bike Tech offers free bike safety check-ups. Santa Cruz Neighbors will collect input on neighborhood traffic issues and the Impact Teen Drivers booth offers probability wheels, video stories of lives lost and graduated driver’s license info.
Santa Cruz Public Works Department will be on hand to discuss latest projects. Performer Matt Meyer will entertain with amazing bike stunts. The Regional Transportation Commission will provide commuter info, bike maps, and Coastal Rail Trail updates. AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will provide traffic safety trivia games with prizes and info on their safety programs.
Mayor Cynthia Chase will lead a brief ceremony to recognize the many sponsors, donors and community partners who have joined forces in our City of Santa Cruz Street Smarts mission.
Learn more about the Kickoff Celebration at Street Smarts.
