DOT and NYC & Company to Unveil Official New York City Bicycle Helmet

6/14/07

PR: Official NYC Bicycle Helmet


Contact: DOT: Molly Gordy/Chris Gilbride (212) 442-7033 NYC & Company: Kimberly Spell/Ernesto Freire (212) 484-1270



DOT AND NYC & COMPANY TO UNVEIL OFFICIAL NEW YORK CITY BICYCLE HELMET



1,000 Free Helmets to Be Distributed in Central Park for 'GET FIT-TED'



NEW YORK CITY - June 14, 2007 - New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan will join Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe tomorrow to unveil the official New York City bicycle helmet � created by NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for the city. The announcement will kick off the 2007 GET FIT-TED helmet distribution and safety awareness campaign. The helmets will be introduced at an 11:00 am press conference, Friday, at Central Park's Bandshell to promote the Parks Department's Adventures NYC program. On Saturday June 16, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) will distribute 1,000 free NYC helmets in Central Park.The GET FIT-TED campaign is a collaborative effort to raise consumer awareness and promote bicycling in all five boroughs. Sponsored by Target and designed by NYC & Company the new NYC helmets offer riders safety and a unique urban style. Crisscrossed by an abstracted street grid, the bright red helmet is a stylish reminder that bikes have an important place on the city's streets. The simple yet modern design also speaks to the speed and flexibility bicycles offer as a mode of metropolitan transportation."New York City is one of the best cycling cities in the world and thanks to our friends at Target thousands of New Yorkers will be safer on their bikes," said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. "We're working hard to expand the city's cycling network and I hope to see a lot of red helmets on our streets and greenways this summer.""We are very excited to work with DOT on this program," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. "Get FIT-TED is an innovative attempt to raise safety awareness, while at the same time encouraging people to go explore all that New York City has to offer across the five boroughs. Our design team did a fantastic job� these helmets are safe and look great."While supplies last, NYC helmets, which come in adult and children sizes, will be fitted and distributed, free of charge, at community events and at the DOT's Safety City locations. Anyone interested in obtaining a free NYC helmet can call 311 to schedule a fitting at a DOT Safety City location.



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About NYC & Company:

NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.