This year’s McDonald’s Bicycle Rodeo is coming up this Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Canadian Tire parking lot.
“All children who can ride tricycles or bicycles are encouraged to attend,” says Denise Skarra recreation co-ordinator with the City of Williams Lake.
Registration is required for this free program by calling the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex at 250-398-7665. Participants are asked to bring their bike and helmet along.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, in partnership with Red Shred’s will also be on site offering “bikes for all.”
Anyone needing a used bicycle can call the CCCS at 250-398-7929 and ask for Mary Forbes.
Anyone who has a bike they no longer need, can bring it to the bike rodeo to be donated to the Bikes for All program.
The McDonald’s Bike Rodeo promotes safe bicycle riding habits to help reduce accidents involving children and offers many interactive activities for children.
“As more people start riding their bikes it is important to remind riders that safety and awareness are critical,” says Dave Dickson, manager of community safety. “Parents should always wear a helmet as it shows children through example that you should never ride your bicycle without one.”
A course with a series of eight safety stations will give children the opportunity to learn correct riding skills, Skarra says.
The emphasis for children at this event is to learn how to control their bicycle. A bicycle safety inspection is one of the stops on the course and professionals will also check the child’s bike helmet to make sure it fits well and is being worn properly.
“Children suffer injuries doing wheeled activities because of a combination of factors that most commonly include inexperience, loss of control, lack of traffic safety skills, high speed and the tendency to attempt stunts,” the Safe Kids Canada website says.
Sponsors of the event include McDonald’s Success by Six, Canadian Tire, Community Policing, Red Shred’s Bike and Board Shed, the Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake and District, Youth for Christ and the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
For more information contact Suzanne Cochrane, recreation programmer, or Skarra at 250-398-7665 or visit activewilliamslake.com.