Kids love bikes, and cops love safety, so the two are combining for a rodeo this week at Lee Park and Omischl Sports Complex.
The children were clearly enjoying the event, and upon graduation received personalized certificates from Chief Scott Tod, a coupon for free McDonalds fries plus some smaller prizes like stickers.
"We're getting a very positive reaction so far," NBPS summer student Sheldon Kilroy told BayToday. "The kids are learning lots and we're also getting educational information to the parents about how to maintain the bike and document the serial number. We emphasize healthy habits on the road for cyclists of all ages."
He and fellow student Saida Wells are overseeing the running of the rodeo.
The police bike rodeo has been run before, but had lapsed over the past few years.
"We brought it back this year," explains Kilroy. "Obviously there are different parameters with social distancing with CIVID-19."
Separate time slots were established with parents registering online to avoid crowds of kids at once.
See: Youth in Policing Initiative students to host bicycle rodeo at the end of July
"We wanted to reach out to the young people in the community," says police spokesman John Schultz. "We want them to understand we're here to help them, and most kids ride bikes so we thought what would be better than to bring back the bike rodeo."
Schultz says its also a good COVID-19 activity because it's outside and social distancing is easier.
"We wipe stuff down after every kid has gone through so we're making sure we're abiding by the requirements of that."
The team goes over the various parts of the bike so the kids understand, and the course is set up to teach the rules of the road and practicing proper balancing and road techniques.
"While they're doing that I chat with the parents," explains Schultz. "The number one thing is wearing a proper helmet. Head injuries are one of the worst things that can happen with bikes and kids so we want parents to realize that wearing a helmet is not just the law, it makes really good sense."
The rodeo is free for children ages 5-10 and runs to the 25th at Lee Park and Omischl and in Callander Thursday, July 30.
Email [email protected] to register.
