Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (June 19/02) - More than 80 kids learned a little about the rules of the road along with their bicycling fun in Arviat earlier this month.

The kids turned out to take part in the annual Arviat Bike Rodeo, which focuses on the safety aspects of riding a bicycle in the community.

Const. Steve Pritchett of the Arviat detachment of the RCMP said the rodeo was organized by the RCMP, Arviat community constables, teachers and high school students.

He said the rodeo was a community event, held to assist in the promotion of bicycle safety.

"The students were put through a total of eight different stations to help them in developing their bike-riding skills," said Pritchett.

"The bike rodeo was quite well received by both the kids and parents who attended." Several businesses in the community helped out with the rodeo by donating refreshments and the prizes that were handed out to the participants.

Const. Paul Paquin said the Arviat Bike Rodeo was one component of an awareness program on biking safety that the detachment is trying to get out to the community.

While showing up for a fun-filled afternoon of bike riding, the kids also learned the basics of bike safety, including hand signals, the right side of the road they should be riding on, obeying stop signs and yield signs, and how to control their bikes properly by going through the various obstacle courses provided.

Paquin said Kivalliq hamlets, obviously, don't have the same concerns of heavy vehicle traffic that communities have to deal with in the South.

However, he added, there are some safety concerns when all-terrain vehicles and bicycles are sharing the same roads.

"The kids ride their bikes everywhere at all hours of the night," said Paquin.

"The rodeo is like any other program in that the participants take out of it what they put into it. But it is a positive step towards helping the kids be safe while they're having fun riding their bikes."