|
|
|
ANNUAL BIKE SAFETY RODEOLearning to ride a bicycle is one of the most exciting times in a child's life - it also can be one of the riskiest. Nationally, about 200 bicyclists under the age of 15 die every year, 75 to 80 percent of those suffering head trauma. Most state laws now require that children under age 12 wear an approved helmet when riding a bicycle. The City of St. Peters holds its annual community bicycle Derby every September, in an effort to stress the importance of bicycle safety and bicycle helmet use. At the Derby, parents were helped to establish these safe patterns of behavior by making sure that children age 15 and under understood what is involved in riding safely in the community. Rick
Oloteo, St. Peters director of Recreation and Ranger Division Operations, was quoted as saying "The annual bike Derby is a day where youth learn their limitations." According to local BMX sponsors, bicycle crashes are one of the most frequent causes of injury-related deaths among children. The Derby gives all local youth an opportunity to have their bicycles inspected to make sure they are in good working order. They also learn and experience the rules of safety and just have some good all-American fun as they challenge themselves and others on the quality track established for their use. The Annual Bike Safety Rodeo is an annual event scheduled
at the
BMX track at Brown Road Park (100
Brown Rd.) near Old Town St. Peters. Riders age 5-15 will test their skills on the regulation track.
|
|