On Saturday, May 18, the Olympic Peninsula Bicycle Alliance hosted a Bike Rodeo at Helen Haller Elementary’s bus parking lot to help educate Sequim’s Youth in bicycle safety.

Drawing 54 attendees in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, volunteers at the rodeo first checked the youths’ bikes for safety, then made sure their helmets were properly fitted. After each child is deemed ready to start, they were given a number of lessons on handling their bikes, ranging from basic handling to safe riding on simulated streets and sidewalks to guides on proper signalling and awareness practices.

According to OBPA safety committee member Richard Bloomer, the event was an unqualified success.

“The kids had a blast,” Bloomer said. “It was so fun to watch them progress through the different stages (of the teaching course) learning each one as they went.”

Bloomer added that all the kids completed the entire course, with some coming back for second and even third time around.

Representatives from Sequim Bike Works, Ben’s Bikes and Frank Finney were on hand to check out bikes and make any necessary safety adjustments. Pedego Bikes were there to raffle off one of their electric bikes, and members of the Sequim Police Department were on hand among the nearly 50 volunteers to ride the courses with the participants and give away helmets and safe cycling goodie bags.

Several students are given instruction on a riding stability course at the Olympic Peninsula Bicycle Alliance’s Bike Rodeo in May 18. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley