James Williams Elementary Bike Rodeo

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 On September 30, 2012 James Williams Elementary School hosted a Bike Rodeo on its campus.  The goal of this event was to teach students skills that would help them to be a safer bicyclist.  The bike rodeo was especially important this year due to recent district budget restraints that reduced Williams' bus routes.  These cutbacks significantly increased the number of students riding bikes and walking to school, thus posing safety challenges.

On the day of the event, the Williams Elementary parking lot was closed to cars and transformed into a biker/walker fun zone.  Approximately 275 bikers plus their parents participated in learning safe biking skills.  Boy Scout Troop 230, Cub Scout Pack 545, and Girl Scout Troop 17530 volunteered their time to help with the Bike Rodeo activities. 

The children were taught how to start and stop safely, how to cross streets and driveways properly, and how to practice proper etiquette while sharing sidewalks and streets with others.  A local bike store, Bike Barn, enlisted the help of some of their employees to inspect bikes for safety and maintenance issues.  All participants were required to wear helmets which were inspected and adjusted properly.  We hoped to teach and encourage safe and polite biking habits!  It was a fun-filled outdoor community education day.