Harford Community Services Corrals Safety with Bike Rodeos
From Harford County government:
(Bel Air, MD) – - Each year when May, designated as Clean Commute Month, rolls around and when Bike to Work Day occurs, Harford County encourages people to explore riding a bicycle as a fun, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective way to get around. This year, as in the past, the Harford County Department of Community Services’ Commuter Assistance Program, in collaboration with the Harford County Public Library and the Sherriff’s Office, offer free Bike Safety Rodeos to promote bicycling safety among children.
There are two Bike Safety Rodeos scheduled for Friday, May 7 beginning at 5:30 pm at the Abingdon Library, 2510 Tollgate Road.
In the springtime, concerns turn toward the hordes of child-cyclists turned loose upon the streets of cities and towns across the country. Bike Safety Rodeo events are, in many cases, the only opportunity to educate parents and children about the safety aspects of riding a bicycle on public roads. The goal is to empower young cyclists with a skill set for on-the-road riding.
What is a Bike Safety Rodeo? Harford County’s Bike Safety Rodeo is formatted as a bicycle clinic featuring safety inspections, optional quick tune-ups, and a safety lecture on the rules of the road from Sgt. Kevin Thomas of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. This is followed by a ride on a miniature “chalk street” course on the Abingdon Library parking lot where young cyclists are shown where and how to apply the rules. Other activities include helmet fittings, prizes and drawings.
Participants are escorted through the course by Sgt. Thomas’ knowledgeable assistants who point out hazards, provide safety tips and explain how to apply the rules of the road that were mentioned in the lecture. This year, Sheriff Bane will be on hand to provide guidance and encouragement for the participants. The main focus of a Bike Safety Rodeo is cycling safety for young cyclists, from kindergarten through middle school.
There will be two safety sessions, one at 5:30 pm and one at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 7. Children must have a helmet and be able to ride without training wheels. To register your child for this Bike Safety Rodeo experience, visit the Abingdon Library or call 410-638-3990 for details. Register soon; space is limited.
For more information on Clean Commute Month and its signature event, Bike to Work Day, visit <a href="http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/commuter">http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/commuter</a>;.