Just before getting on her blue bicycle, nine-year old Tiffany Rona says the most important thing she does before she rides her bike is to put on her helmet.
At the Community Bike Rodeo held on Saturday, Oct. 5, she joined other kids riding through a bicycle obstacle course at the North Saanich Canadian Tire parking lot.
“We’re just trying to mimic a child’s trip through their neighborhood” Cst. Tim Cosgrove, Sidney North Saanich RCMP, said. “We got some streetlights, stop signs, crosswalks, intersections to try to get them comfortable stopping and looking both ways and keeping their eyes open for obstacles they might run into.”
Parents like Derek Matthews, who brought her two daughters and their two cousins to the bike rodeo is thankful for the opportunity to get their kids out to ride their bikes while learning safety tips from the RCMP.
“I like to think I try to teach them the best I can, but learning from the experts and learning from others is always good and the real-life scenarios make it all better,” he said.
RCMP says distracted driving is a big issue for all drivers and bikers alike and is reminding everyone that road safety is a shared responsibility.
The bike rodeo was sponsored by North Saanich Canadian Tire.
“It means a lot for us to be part of this,” owner John Cunnningham shared at the start of the afternoon safety ride. “We want to be community orientated and to have some young people come out and get instruction from the RCMP is fantastic.”
Cunningham and his wife Janet were inspired by a bike rodeo they hosted a few years ago in their Nova Scotia store.
“On the last day of school, the kids will get their report cards, and they would come to the Canadian Tire parking lot, Janet recalled excitedly. “We would have a bike rodeo and celebrate, do treats and bike giveaways; probably over a hundred kids would come out and it was just a big event that they look forward to every year.”
Saturday’s bike rodeo is the first for the North Saanich store and they brought in the Peninsula Panthers to help support the kids in their ‘handlebars-on’ safety training.
“These guys are fans; they’re the ones coming out to watch our games and support us so it’s only fair that we give it back and come out and support them too,” Jacob Walsh, Panthers goalie, said.
Before the afternoon was over, two lucky participants rode away with their brand new bicycles sponsored by Canadian Tire.
