Young Penhold residents who want to hone their bike riding safety skills and have fun while doing it will get their chance with the second annual Penhold bike rodeo on June 17.
Last year the event pulled in over 150 students to the Jessie Duncan School.
“The principal said she'd never seen so many bikes at school before,” said Dana Jones, community peace officer. This year the event is going to be held at the Penhold Regional Multiplex.
The bike rodeo allows students from kindergarten through to Grade 3 to show off the skills they've learned through bicycle safety presentations that take place before the bike rodeo.
Jones is doing 40-minute classroom presentations.
The rodeo starts at 9 a.m. and Jones said the length of the program will depend on how many students come out this year.
At the bike rodeo itself there will be six stations where students will be marked on their ability to accomplish different skills like riding in a straight line, steering, signalling and more.
Jones said there will be a separate station to get helmets inspected and bikes checked.
There's an opportunity for a boy and girl in each grade to win a new bike. Jones said those with the highest combined marks between the in-class educational knowledge test and the skills stations at the rodeo will qualify.
“There's eight bikes that are given out,” Jones said. She said other prizes are in the offing for attendees as well.
Jones said the event is important to help children understand bicycle and traffic safety. It also helps take the classroom education and lets the children practise the skills they're taught.
Last year's event was a success and the students have been looking forward to the bike rodeo for some time.
“The children were already excited in September,” Jones said.
Jones is looking for volunteers and sponsorship donations for the bike rodeo. She can be reached at 403-886-3286.
