The Gilroy Police Department, in conjunction with the Gilroy Unified School District, launched a Bicycle Helmet Education, Enforcement, Encouragement campaign to reduce injuries and death in Gilroy's youth.

By law, minors are not allowed to operate a bicycle, non-motorized scooter, skateboard or in-line skates unless he or she is wearing a properly fastened helmet. Unfortunately, many children are not abiding by this law, police said.

From Aug. 21 to Sept. 21, police will distribute flyers at local schools to educate students about the law. After the campaign, the citation process will include an optional traffic diversion program for first time offenders. Failure to attend the program or a second violation will result in the submission of the citation to traffic court. Police hope to raffle off a bike at each middle school in the spring to students who wear their helmets properly.

"Use your head," School Resource Officer Cherie Somavia said. "Wear your helmet."

Gavilan adds more parking

Students and staff may have an easier time finding parking at the Gavilan College Gilroy campus this fall. Phase II of planned improvements to parking lots are now underway. The improvements, funded by Measure E, the $108-million facilities bond measure passed by voters in 2004, include resurfacing, landscaping and lighting existing lots, and adding parking spaces through reconfiguration and expansion. In all, this summer's work will yield 347 additional parking spots.

Phase I of the parking project was completed last summer, reconfiguring Lots A, D, and E to add more than 60 parking spaces, and adding lighting and landscaping to the lots. The project has been phased to minimize impact on students from construction.

Despite additional parking spaces, high enrollment growth kept parking lots crowded during the 2007/08 academic year. Early signs point to continuing enrollment growth for this fall - so students may still want to explore transportation options including carpooling and public transportation.

Semester-long parking permits are $40 for all-day use (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), $20 for evenings-only (3 p.m. to 10 p.m.) One-day parking permits are $.75. There is no fee to park at either the Hollister or Morgan Hill satellite sites, or on weekends at the Gilroy campus.

School begins Sept. 3.