Bike Safety for Kids

Every year in Alpine County the children look forward to an annual event with eager anticipation.

The Bike-A-Thon!

This event is coordinated by the Student Services Coordinator at the school with support from multiple local agencies including the Wellness Coordinator for Alpine County Behavioral Health and the Alpine County Public Health Education Coordinator. Prior to this event the adults in the community work together to inspect and repair the bikes for around 100 children. Bikes which have been repaired and are safe to ride are tagged with a band.

Weeks before the event children are asked if they have safety helmets and every effort is made by community agencies and community members to ensure each child with a bike has a helmet.

Then the long awaited day arrives! Early in the morning some of the bikes are still being repaired and inspected by a few talented and generous volunteer bike mechanics. The mood is electric and the riders are eager to start. It helps that this is the LAST day of school and the START of a beautiful summer! Older children ride out from the school on a closed course- an 9 mile ride. Some children opt to turn around at the 2 -1/4 mile rest stop and complete a 4.5 mile ride. Younger children remain at the school and test their bicycle skills and review safety procedures on a Bike Rodeo course set up by Officers with the California Highway Patrol. Vehicles with flat bed trailers, Alpine County Sheriff's Deputies, Eastern Alpine Volunteer Firefighters, Washoe Tribal Police Officers provide support and drive the course to ensure any tired children are safely transported to school with their bikes in tow. California Highway Patrol Bicycle Officers along with a multitude of adult volunteers ride alongside the children to remind them of the safety rules and provide encouragement to help them complete the ride.

What makes this event so great? Is it the community collaboration around an event for our kids which encourages physical activity, the delicious potluck lunch, or the raffle for around a dozen new bikes- all donated by the community? Those are great but the best part is.......

The children start the summer with safe bikes, helmets and a fresh review of bike safety in their minds.

Priceless.

If you have children who will be riding bikes this summer, take the time to have their bikes checked for safety, make sure they have a helmet that fits and review bike safety rules.
You can find a bike safety checklist in the CHIPPER coloring book from the California Highway Patrol along with tips for keeping your children safe this summer.

Have a safe, active summer!