Staff
Bike safety will be the name of the game during an OPP bike rodeo this Friday at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.
OPP summer students Sierra Cousineau and Jessica Coran are organizing the event, which will run from 10 a.m.-noon.
Kids aged four-nine are urged to bring their bikes and helmets to the library parking lot and learn about bike safety.
“Basically, a bike rodeo is an obstacle set-up,” Cousineau explained.
“There’s different challenges at different levels,” she noted. “The easiest is to drive in a straight line within two lines.
“Then you get harder ones, like stopping in a certain area or slaloms and crossing the train track-type situations.”
The rodeo also includes an inspection to determine if a bike is road-worthy and safe. And if not, what should be done to make it so.
Cousineau and Coran also ran a bike rodeo during “Railroad Daze” in Rainy River earlier this month, giving safety tips to 30 kids.
During that event, Coran noted quite a few bikes had flat tires and loose bike chains, or chains in need of oil.
Some bikes also needed reflectors and lights.
Cousineau said since they started the job, they’ve learned some new things about bike safety. For example, every bike has to have a bell or a horn.
Youths also should wear a bike helmet up until they’re 18 years old.
There will be draws for prizes (such as fishing rods, T-shirts, and key chains), as well as certificates for those who complete the course.
Parents/guardians of kids interested in attending the bike rodeo are asked to register by calling the library at 274-9879 or dropping by in person prior to the day of the event.
This is so organizers can be prepared.
The bike rodeo is one of the library’s continuing series of “Funtastic Friday” events.
