MASON CITY – The Mason City Bicycle Safety Rodeo will be held on Saturday, May 16 from 9-11 AM in the parking lot west of the Mason City Police Department. Mason City Community School District and Newman Catholic Schools are encouraging students and families to participate in this fun and educational safety event. A bicycle rodeo is a hands-on education approach teaching students how to properly and safely ride bicycles. This rodeo follows the bicycle classroom education curriculum 3rd grade students will learn about on Friday, May 15.
Biking is an easy way to promote physical activity and to aid in the reduction of childhood obesity. Participating in the bicycle rodeo introduces children to physical, social, and environmental benefits of biking and fosters a sense of community.
There will be six (6) stations in which children may participate. Children will practice recognizing stop and yield signs and practice using correct hand signals. They will also practice bicycle handling using shoulder checks for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Participants will be entered into a raffle to receive a new youth bicycle. Raffle drawings will be held at 9:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sponsors of this event include: Bennett’s Bike & Fitness and Wayne’s Ski and Cycle donating time and tools to help with basic repairs on participants’ bikes, and the River City Kiwanis Club donating helmets to children who are in need and offering helmet fittings.
Participants must bring their own bicycle to participate in the bike rodeo.
For more information regarding the Mason City Community Bike Rodeo on Saturday, May 16, from 9-11 am, please contact Kelli Huinker, Safe Routes to School Coordinator at 641-421-9312 or Mike Penca, Mason City Community School District Administrator at 641-421-4400.
