January might seem an odd time to run a story about bicycle safety. While many kids received bicycles for Christmas, how many of them also found helmets under the tree?

Children's Express talked with three kids who were injured in bike accidents about the accident, safety and helmets. They offer advice about what to do to make sure that bikers enjoy Christmas at home, and not in the hospital.

Pike High School student Steve Wilson, 17, involved in a hit-and-run accident in 1989, thinks there's a need to increase awareness of bike safety and routes.

Aaron Springer, 16, a student at Thomas Carr Howe High School, was 15 when his accident happened and says he still does not have a bike.

Thirteen-year old Joshua Aydt's doctor took Joshua's helmet to the schools to show students the damage an accident can do to a helmet, while preventing some of the impact's injury to the body. Joshua and his doctor have become spokespersons on preventing head injuries through Methodist Hospital.

The accident

STEVE WILSON, 17: I really don't remember (the accident). It was just told to me. I was riding down a semi-busy street one day, and a car backed up. . . . I wasn't looking in front of me at the time. And a car was backing out of his driveway, didn't see me, and I didn't see it. And we collided.

I went through the back windshield of the car. And you want to know what happened after that? I got rushed to the hospital . . . about five minutes later, after I walked home. The people that hit me ran off.

I was wearing a bike helmet.

I was in the hospital for about three days. I had a broken scapula, that's a broken shoulder bone. And I had 315 stitches across my face. . . . the bottom two-thirds of my ear was chopped off and was sewn back on.

I had a torn sternocleiodomastoid, the muscle that goes from the back of your neck to (your lower vertebrae). It snapped in half.

It was 2 millimeters away from my optic nerve on my left eye, so I would have been blind if I wasn't wearing a helmet.

Right now, (the people who hit me are) in Michigan City prison, for hit and run. They called it voluntary manslaughter.

AARON SPRINGER, 16: I was biking east on 10th Street between Emerson (Avenue) and Arlington (Avenue). I was on my bike route on the south side of the street heading east. The bike route turned left, north onto Hawthorne (Street). I stopped, watched two cars go past me going east, and then turned north, crossed three lanes and then was hit in the fourth lane by a Chevette headed west.

I was thrown off the car and landed on my back on the grass. My bike was thrown off the car and landed on the street. I stood up and realized my shoulder was bleeding and my ankle hurt a little.

The people jumped up and said, "No, lay down. You're dead, you're dead, you're dead."

Apparently they were surprised by my sudden appearance on the windshield. And I laid down and the paramedics arrived within about five minutes.

I ended up with many abrasions on my arm, my right arm, the back of my neck and I had a sprained ankle. . . . Luckily, I landed on the grass. I was taken to Wishard (Hospital), and six hours later I was released.

The police report made it look like it was my fault. And I really don't understand how a bicyclist could be at fault when a car is traveling at 30 or 40 mph, weighs two tons and has a little bit more (mobility) than a bicycle.

JOSHUA AYDT, 13: I was struck by a car in 1991 - Palm Sunday. We had gone 50-some miles (the day before). We were going another 50 (miles) that day.

(The result of my accident was a) brain concussion.

(Note: Joshua doesn't remember details of the accident. His Boy Scout troop had ridden to Shades State Park and were coming back when Joshua was hit by a car. After his accident he remained in a coma for four days. The accident took place south of Crawfordsville. He was taken to Crawfordsville Hospital, where he waited for the LifeLine helicopter. He was flown to Methodist Hospital, where he was treated. He and his doctor have become a spokespersons for a bike safety program through Methodist Hospital.)

Why wear a helmet?

STEVE: I always wear a helmet. Why do I wear one? Safety. I wear a helmet and gloves.

Tell your kids to wear their helmets and their cycling gloves. The gloves do about 10 times more than what you think they do. I mean, they give you grip when you're cycling. But also, if you have a fall or something, they support your hands from getting scrapes and other things, when you land on the concrete.

AARON: Most of my friends who have bikes do wear helmets. . . . One reason I just haven't had a helmet is . . . they are expensive. A helmet for a person my size runs up into 30 bucks. . . . and since my parents are both students, it is very hard to pay for that.

I had a helmet for about a year. . . . but I wrecked (my dad's) bike and gave him the helmet sort of to make up for it.

I really didn't see the need for (a helmet). I'm a rather well-built person.

I have almost landed on my head in a couple of the accidents, but I was taught by someone who has been in a lot of accidents how to avoid getting injured in accidents.

One of the things I use is I put my arms above my head and roll if it looks like I'm going to land on my head. And that's worked in any case I've been thrown from my bike.

The helmet would have been a good idea, but in the accident I was in, it didn't really make a difference. My head did not come in contact with the car - it was my neck and shoulder. If it had, I probably would not be giving you this interview right now.

Before the accident I was kind of cocky about my bike riding. I would cross four-lane streets rather easily. I wouldn't watch out for cars all the time. . . .

I'm a little bit more cautious. I'm a little bit more careful in everything I do. . . . If I get another bike, I probably will buy a helmet also.

JOSHUA: I think everybody should wear them, even if they're skateboarding or blading, playing hockey, it doesn't matter.

I yell at my friend all the time (to wear a helmet).

After the accident

STEVE: After I got out of the hospital, (the doctors) said that I probably couldn't ride for the next couple of months to a year. But after about two months, I went out and I started riding again. And that really helped to build up my self-esteem.

AARON: I was told my bike was totalled, everything was lost on the bike. . . . Unfortunately, it's worth about 400 bucks and I don't have the money to replace it. . . . Since I had the accident I haven't had a bike. I basically stripped my bike and sold the parts.

JOSHUA: (Since the accident) I got two new helmets - one from my dad, one from my mom. . . . I think I am more safety conscious now.

Actions

STEVE: I've written two letters to (state officials) about bicycle safety. That's been a while though and I haven't gotten any response.

I've talked to IPD about it. And they have actually written a letter (using) my letter in their letter, to the governor, and they've had no response on that.

I think that the state needs to get a lot more involved (in promoting bike safety and providing safe routes for bikers). They need to put in a special section of the road, probably about 2-feet wide, for cyclers, because cycling is growing across the nation quite rapidly. (Each city/town) needs to put in an extra - I wouldn't say a sidewalk, I'd say a lane, a bicycle lane.

Usually the runners and bicyclists are . . . a couple of inches from the cars when they pass. If they built a separate lane, they'd be about a foot away from traffic.

AARON: The idea of bike routes is a good one. I've always traveled on bike routes. . . . But I think bike routes should be clearly marked - much more clearly marked than they are.

The idea of bicycling should be promoted, not only by the government but by private companies. It should be a general idea that bicycling is not just a kids' sport. It is a mode of transportation which is not only good for the body but good for the environment.

EDITED BY: Aaron Shackelford, 15