Bike Rodeo Tested Skills, Good Riding Habits
0
Votes

Bike Rodeo Tested Skills, Good Riding Habits

Police Department teaches safety with fun.

photo

Donna Manz/The Connection

The Vienna Police Department set up a bike rodeo, complete with ramps and obstacle course, in the parking lot of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

photo

Donna Manz/The Connection

Conner Elling, 7, and his brother Owen, 5, said they liked the obstacle course created by the Vienna Police Department for the last Saturday’s bike rodeo.

photo

Donna Manz/The Connection

On your mark, get set … go. Police officers from the Vienna Police Department guided young bike riders around the obstacle course.

photo

Donna Manz/The Connection

Mason Muscatello, 9, was “excited” to come to Vienna’s bike rodeo on May 3. Spokes and Bikes@Vienna provided free helmet and bike safety checks.

photo

Donna Manz/The Connection

Even if a child rode a scooter rather than a bike, a representative from Spokes checked his helmet for fit.

It was an ideal spring day for the Vienna Police Department’s bike rodeo on May 3. The sky was sunny and clear and it was warm but not too hot to be riding around the pavement of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s parking lot. The event, held from 9 to noon, was not crowded, either, but the kids who steered through the obstacle course enjoyed themselves.

“We’re here to teach them [her sons] bike safety and to have fun,” said Vienna mom Lilibet Elling. “When they ride their bikes, it’s important they know to look both ways, to look for everything. Not just traffic, but, walkers, too.”

Parents appreciated the bike helmet and bike safety checks provided by Bikes@Vienna and Spokes as a free community service. Representatives checked tire pressure and if a tire needed air, air was pumped. Kids got medals for participating, too. The bounce house was popular until a child threw up in it and closed it down shortly before noon. Other than that, the bike rodeo went well.

— Donna Manz