Wednesday, April 17th students at Park School in Weiser were able to participate in a Bike Rodeo. With the weather warming up more and more students are riding their bikes and scooters to school. Vivian Odette, a teacher at Park School, wanted to make sure students were getting to school safely and responsibly on their bikes and scooters. “The Bike Rodeo is a bike safety demonstration. It helps teach the student how they can maneuver and stop, how to wear their helmets and get around safely.” Odette wanted to thank the community for their support stating, “It’s been absolutely fantastic. We have had a lot of volunteers show up, parents have brought in bikes and the kids have been really excited about it. It’s been a really great success!”
The Bike Rodeo was a chance for students to get some basic bicycle safety training along with the fun of putting their skills to the test in a Bike Rodeo skills course. Students were able to bring their scooters and bikes to school to use during the rodeo. Scooters were available for those who didn’t bring their own from home.
Marisa Keith along with her team from Idaho Smart Growth, who are state wide supporters of the Safe Routes to School Program, came to help with the Bike Rodeo. Keith shared, “There are different programs throughout the State and places like Weiser do not have a Safe Routes Program yet so we come out here and help do Bike Rodeos to teach kids on how to be safer on the roads and what the laws are on the road are, so when they come to a roundabout, four way stop or yield sign they know what that is and what they are supposed to do.” They are looking to start a Safe Routes Program in Weiser, but need a local non-profit sponsor. She shared that there is funding available and anyone interested can contact her at marisa@idahosmartgrowth.org.
Park School Principal, Brooke Winston, shared her excitement in being able to offer this to all the students at Park School stating, “We are just excited that our kids got the opportunity to learn what bike safety is. What a great way to provide that here at school for them and to honor the Wolverine way, every day, in every way.”
