CLEARFIELD – After a hiatus in the community for nearly five years, a bicycle rodeo is slated to take place in Clearfield this summer.
The event aims to educate youth about the importance of keeping safety in mind while bicycling.
Participants will take part in various stations including an obstacle course, bike inspection and helmet fitting.
Interested youth are invited to join for an evening of fun and safety for the whole family.
The bicycle rodeo, hosted by Clearfield County Safe Kids Coalition along with the Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library, will take place June 14, with a rain date of June 21.
This free event will be held at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds, located on 5615 Park St., Clearfield. Registration will be open from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Upon conclusion of the rodeo, participants will receive a snack, special course completion certificate and be eligible for various prizes, including a new bike.
Pre-registration is required by June 9 with spots available for the first 60 registrants. To register, contact the Shaw Public Library at 814-765-3271.
Participants should bring a bicycle and helmet, as well as be accompanied with a parent or guardian.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 37 bicyclists, 14 years of age and under, were killed in 2015 while another 5,000 were injured.
In a majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head. Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head and brain injuries in the event of a crash.
All bicyclists, regardless of age, can help protect themselves by wearing properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The goal of the bicycle rodeo is to help youth identify proper bicycling handling and maneuvering, reinforce the importance of helmets and ultimately keep children in the community safe.
Clearfield County Safe Kids is part of Safe Kids Worldwide (http://www.safekids.org/), a global organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children, the number one killer of kids in the United States.
For more information, please contact Judy Patterson, nutrition-safety advisor for Cen-Clear, at 814-342-5678, Ext. 2264.
The coalition always welcomes new members and traditionally meets the third Tuesday each month at 12 p.m. at Cen-Clear Child Services, 60 Industrial Park Rd., Clearfield, PA 16830. The next meeting will be June 20.
Donations to the local Clearfield County Safe Kids Coalition are tax-deductible and can help ensure the word about safe practices can be spread all year long.
Clearfield County Safe Kids is a co-sponsor of Clearfield County’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® held each September, Cen-Clear’s Safety Expo held each October, and various other safety events throughout the county.
