First Annual FDL Bike Rodeo A Success

Kids love cruising around on their bikes, especially during the summer months! To ensure that young cyclists are ready to ride safely, the Fond du Lac Area Safety Council, in partnership with the Fond du Lac Police Department, recently hosted the first annual Fond du Lac Bike Rodeo.

 

“The main goal of the Bike Rodeo was to educate kids and parents on bike safety,” explained Randy Cunzenheim of the Fond du Lac Fire Department and President of the Fond du Lac Area Safety Council. “With summer approaching we want to remind everyone to think safety, before and during a bike ride and while out and about in the community.”

 

The “Bike Rodeo” was a bicycle safety clinic focused on cycling safety for young cyclists (age’s kindergarten to 14).  Participants practiced and developed skills that will help them to become better bicyclists and avoid typical crashes.  The event featured bike safety and fit checks – courtesy of Fond du Lac Cyclery, helmet fitting, bike licensing, bike skills training and much more!

 

A highlight of the Bike Rodeo was the bike obstacle course.  Young cyclists rode on a miniature course where they were shown where and how to apply the rules of the road. The participants were escorted through the course by a police officer and volunteers who pointed out hazards, offered safety tips and further explanation of the rules of the road. The young bike riders learned about blind corners, stopping at stop signs, staying off the sidewalks, yielding to pedestrians, intersections, crosswalks and driveways.

 

Event organizers would like to give a big thank you to event sponsors: Agnesian HealthCare, Mid-States Aluminum Corporation, the Fond du Lac Police Department and the Fond du Lac Area Safety Council. 

 

A special thank you goes out to the Cops for Kids Foundation that donated two bikes to be given away at this year’s Bike Rodeo.  Winners of the donated bikes were Trevor Hernandez of Pier Elementary and MaKenna Herbrand of St. Peters Lutheran. 

 

A special thank you goes out to Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County for their donation of adult bike helmets for the Bike Rodeo. Pictured from left: Megan Stahmann, Habitat for Humanity; Randy Cunzenheim, Fond du Lac Fire Department, President of the Fond du Lac Area Safety Council.