Bluffton’s bike rodeo is back with Officer Hope Hannah and Bike Crazy LLC providing the expertise necessary to teach riders in grades K-5 bicycling rules of the road and skills, and to check participants’ bikes for the “ABCs” of safety: Air, Brakes and Chains.

• 7:30-10:30 a.m., July 23, Buckeye Park
• Bring your bike, helmet and parent/guardian
• Volunteers needed

Officer Hannah will provide education about how to ride and where to ride. Children will learn the correct side of the road, stopping at stop signs, hand signals and awareness of traffic. They will also learn about when to get off their bike and how to wear a helmet.

The event includes tests of starts and stops, maneuverability and a fun ride. The Findlay Police Department will be providing a grid mat on the basketball courts with stop lights and stop signs.

Raymond and Liz Harner of Bike Crazy LLC with check individual bikes for tire air pressure, brake and chain condition, seat height and bike sizing.

Parents/guardians will be required to sign a waiver form acknowledging the the police department isn’t responsible for any injuries that might happen. Doughnuts and coffee will be provided for volunteers, while children will be provided with fruit and granola bar snacks. Donations will be accepted.

This is the fourth bike rodeo in a series interrupted by the pandemic. The Bluffton Police Department also teaches bike and pedestrian safety to 4th graders. Officer Hannah reports that she can see the results on the street and sidewalks. When she sees children walking their bikes at crosswalks or looking both ways before crossing the street, she feels that she has taught them something important.

Hannah observes that more people are riding bikes in the past couple of years, including more families riding together. When asked if she has any particular tips for Icon readers, it is that while young children may ride on the sidewalk, it is important that they yield to pedestrians. Cyclists should walk bikes through the downtown business area.