LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Bike safety was on the curriculum last week for students at Bompas elementary school.

All of the school's students participated in a bike rodeo on May 30 in Fort Simpson. The school organizes the yearly rodeo with the assistance of the local RCMP detachment.

Decked out in all the necessary safety gear including a helmet, elbow and knee pads Larissa Grossetete, 5, steers around a pylon during Bompas elementary school's bike rodeo. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The event is all about keeping the students safe when they're riding their bikes, said Nancy Noseworthy, one of the organizers.

"The summertime is a time when they're going to be riding their bikes more so it's good to review safety rules," Noseworthy said.

The school's support staff ran the rodeo and spent most of the day outside watching the students' techniques.

"They're doing good, all of them," said Jessie Horesay, a support assistant.

To practise and demonstrate their safety skills students took turns navigating a course made out of pylons beside the school. The course tested their ability to ride in a straight line, dodge obstacles, brake, make tight turns and do hand signals at four-way intersections.

"It was fun," said Larissa Grossetete.

Grossetete, 5, said she learned how to swerve around pylons although the training wheels on her bicycle made it hard to manoeuvre quickly.

Harley Betsedea, 9, said she enjoyed navigating her bike through the obstacle course set up in the tennis court.

"I thought it was cool," she said.

Betsedea also picked up some new safety tips during the event.

"I learned you have to use your hand signals when you're on the road," she said.

The rodeo is a great idea, said Const. Cindy Bowring, who was present to teach students about hand signals and how to turn at four-way intersections.

"It teaches kids the basics for riding on the roadway," Bowring said.

The rodeo is a good way to teach the skills because the students are having so much fun they absorb the information better, she said.

"It's exciting for them. They like riding around all the little courses," she said.

Cyclists of any age can benefit by following a few safety practices, said Bowring. The practices include being aware of surroundings, letting the people behind you know your intentions by using hand signals, wearing a bike helmet and riding on the correct side of the road.

In addition to learning safety tips students could get their bikes tuned up. George Denethlon was on hand to fix any broken bikes and raise seats to the right levels.

Some students also left the rodeo with prizes.

Enbridge Pipelines Ltd. donated two bikes and both the local District Education Authority and Liidlii Kue First Nation donated money for prizes.