People young and old take to the streets on bicycles during the summer months. I get excited when I see families out for a bike ride together, exploring the parks in our communities. What excites me even more is when I see the entire family protecting their heads with bicycle helmets. Even minor accidents can result in a serious head injury if a helmet is not worn.
An event that I have been asked to help coordinate is just around the corner. A Family Fun Bike Ride is set for Saturday, July 10th, from 8 – 9 AM at the Expo grounds west of Great Bend. This event is jointly sponsored by our Cottonwood Extension District, the Barton County Fair Association, Pilot Club and the Be Well Barton County task force.
Our goal during the hour-long event will be to teach bicycle safety rules while participants are having fun. We will have free bike helmets in sizes from toddlers through adult. Pilot Club members will be on hand to help properly fit the helmets on participants. Helmets will be distributed on a first come-first served basis. Besides the helmet giveaway, Pilot Club members will be offering a healthy snack.
We will divide the participants into age groups and have stations set up with age appropriate activities. From riding through an obstacle course, practicing hand signals and decorating your bike there will be activities for everyone. Todd Van Skike, from Golden Belt Bicycle, will be on hand to do minor adjustments including safety checks on bicycles for the days’ ride. He will also bring a few Strider bikes for little ones to try out. Great Bend Police Chief, Steven Haulmark, has provided us with materials to register 40 bicycles at no charge during the event. Completing a bicycle registration helps to identify your bike if it is ever stolen.
As you can see, many community minded people are working to make this Family Fun Bike Ride a success. Now all we need are families to join us on the runway just west of the Great Bend armory? There is no pre-registration for the event but feel free to give me a call at (620)793-1910 if you have any questions about this fun event.
Donna Krug is the District Director and Family & Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research & Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or [email protected]