Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Jun 11/01) - Droves of children rode away with a better understanding of bike safety and the rules of the road following this year's Bike Rodeo in Hay River.
Nearly three times the average turn-out had organizers running a little ragged, said firefighter and Safe Kids coordinator, Karmyn Turner.
In previous years, Turner said the rodeo has drawn an average of 60 to 75 participants, but this year, 210 registered.
"This is our biggest yet, by far," she said. "they've been keeping us running."
The children were patient in the long lines, waiting to get put through the paces of the safety squad on road skills, hand signals and safety equipment.
"We inspect their helmets if they've got them, if they don't we try to give them helmets," she said. "Helmets are our big push -- if they fall off their bike, that's where they get the biggest injury."
"We also make sure kids have good bike skills, so there are fewer accidents and we don't have to take our ambulance out so often," she said.
The rodeo is a joint operation with the Hay River fire department, the transportation department, municipal bylaw enforcement and the RCMP.
"The schools have been a really big help," she said. "We went in to talk to the classes and put posters up all over."
"The RCMP are here and they do bike registration," she said. "If bikes get lost or stolen, the RCMP can identify them."
Each participant walks away with a prize and a proficiency license to show the world they're a safe rider.
"We put their picture on little ID cards -- I hate to use the term bike license, but that's what I wanted to call it," she said. "It's just a little ID card for the kids and if their bikes do get stolen, then there's something with the registration number on it."
After the rodeo, riders and parents were treated to hot dogs and pop provided by local business.
