By Matt Weingarden
LaSalle Police Service held its 26th annual Bicycle Rodeo Saturday morning at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Centre.
LPS, in conjunction with Bike Windsor Essex, hosted the event which is held to teach safe cycling skills to youth, ages 15 and under. This free event featured safe cycling skills training, bike and helmet adjustments, pizza lunch, a chance to win one of four bikes and Pro BMX stunt demonstration.
“We want to make sure our children ride in a safe manor for themselves and everybody else,” said senior constable Terry Seguin, community liaison officer for LaSalle Police Service. “We want to ensure that their equipment including helmets are properly fitted, bicycles are tuned up properly and they operate their bikes in a predictable manor.
He says that sometimes children operate their bikes a bit erratically, especially along the roadway with vehicle traffic. Part one of the bike rodeo is designed to educate young riders on the basics of using hand signals and safe operation, while part two includes learning skills like balance, riding in a straight line, riding over obstacles and paying attention to signage.
“It’s a combination of skills taught during the day, pizza lunch from Naples and trimmings from Zehrs, and a BMX stunt demonstration,” continued Seguin. “There is also the chance to win one of four bicycles and six helmets, contributed the Children’s Safety Village.”
The bikes were purchased through a monetary donation from LaSalle Towing.
On location, volunteers from the Bike Windsor Essex organization, were on hand to help LPS facilitate the rodeo. Bike Windsor Essex is a non-profit community cycling advocacy organization and resource centre dedicated to the promotion of cycling as an empowering, community-enriching, fun, environmentally sustainable, and active mode of transportation.
“This is a great opportunity for us to partner with LaSalle Police Service to educate young riders on the importance of bike safety and learn the A,B,C quick check…air, brakes and chain, helmet fitting and the rules of the road,” said Darren Winger, volunteers with the Bike Windsor Essex organization. From there we go to the obstacle course which helps in testing balance and agility.”
Winger notes that June is the perfect time for this type of event as summer approaches and school comes to a close for the year.
“We want to make sure young riders are prepared.”
Seguin says that he’s happy as a police officer to take part in bringing this event to the community as part of giving back, as he recalls attending the same bike rodeo session when was he was 10-years-old.
“It’s kind of nice that I’m finishing out my career as a police officer by being able to bring events like this to the community,” he said. “It’s come full circle for me.”
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