South Simcoe Police hosted its annual Bike Rodeo at St. Angela Merici Catholic School this past weekend and attracted a steady stream of kids on bikes and trikes.
The bike safety event was open to all students from both the public and Catholic school boards, and kids from Chris Hadfield Public School, Fred C. Cook Public School, St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic School and W.H. Day Elementary School dropped by, to have their helmets checked, bicycles tuned up, and try the obstacle and speed courses.
Special constables and volunteers checked to make bikes were in working order, and had all of the mandated safety featurs - working brakes, lights, reflectors and bell. Kids were encouraged to cycle at top speed, while an officer used a radar guns to measure just how fast they could go.
Helmets were checked to make sure they fit properly. There were even certified bicycle helmets, donated by the schools, free to any child who had outgrown his or her current model.
Madihya Magsi, with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, demonstrated the importance of a good helmet, using a mold of a human brain, made of Jell-O and raw eggs.
“I’m the Brain Lady,” said Magsi – showing kids that an uncooked egg doesn’t even crack, if dropped wearing a protective ‘helmet.’ An uncooked egg dropped without protection, however…
At least 60 kids entered the draw for one of two free 18-inch bikes, donated by the South Simcoe Police Association. Winners were Emma Santos, eight, from W.H. Day, and five-year-old Nicole Tavares, a student at St. Angela Merici. Officer Elisabeth (Special Constable Elisabeth Aschwanden) and St. Angela school principal Joe Almeida drew the winning tickets.
A second Bike Rodeo was held on Sunday, at Alcona Glen Elementary School in Innisfil for students in the North Division, with the same goal: To ensure that kids ride safe this summer.
