Bike rodeo to teach safety Saturday

PALMER — Following the conclusion of the Colony Days Parade on Saturday morning, a stampede of pedalers will set up shop in the Palmer Library parking lot on Elmwood Avenue.

But those pedaling won’t be food vendors — they’ll be powering bicycles.

At the Bicycle Rodeo and Safety Checks event put on by the Palmer Police Department, Commander Thomas Remaley said youngsters will learn the ropes of being a safe and responsible bike rider.

A handful of lucky youngsters may even lasso some new wheels, Remaley said, as the department will raffle off five or six bicycles during the event. The PPD also has a few hundred free bicycle helmets to give away during the rodeo.

In addition to the freebies, kids will have an opportunity to put a stamp of ownership on their rides. The department will register bicycles by recording serial numbers, writing descriptions and placing an identification sticker on bicycles. Remaley said in the event a bicycle is lost or stolen, officers can identify the bike based on its characteristics and return it to the rightful owner.

Riders will also get bicycle safety lessons from the police department. Just as there are rules to abide by when driving a car, Remaley said it’s important children learn the rules of riding on two wheels.

The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the Palmer Chamber of Commerce at 745-2880.

Contact Derek Casanovas at derek.casa-novas@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.