Bike Rodeo brings kids, police together

Jun. 28—Bicycle safety starts at a young age.

At least, it needs to, according to the Logansport Police Department.

After all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, based upon the most recent data, non-fatal, bicycle-related injuries were 39% of all transportation-related injuries among 5- to 15-year-olds.

So, spending time training youngsters about proper riding and safety procedures is important. And that's one reason local officers spent a couple hours Saturday teaching children about bicycle safety.

Despite off-and-on storms throughout most of the weekend, the blue skies appeared long enough for the 30th Annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo at Muehlhausen Tower Park.

And six-year-old Hunter Turner could not have been more pleased.

With a smile plastered across his face, he said it was a fun experience.

Eden Tolle, 4, agreed, saying she had fun and the obstacles weren't too difficult despite her mother, Emily, saying she and her sister Esther, 2, were relatively new to bike riding.

Emily Tolle said they heard about the rodeo online and thought it would be good to come out. "I figured it would be something fun that the girls could do and get to interact with the local police department and forge those relationships with the community," she said.

Knowing that parents recognize the interaction as a benefit is another reason Reserve Police Officer Danny Farris was excited about holding the LPD- and Logansport Parks & Recreation Department-hosted rodeo. "It gives the children a look at the proper safety features when riding a bike, and it gives them a chance to interact with officers. (It shows) them that officers are humans, too, and they can see (officers) in a positive way."

Officers love to get out into the community for fun, to interact with the community, instead of only being seen as law enforcement officers who respond to calls, Farris said. "The officers like to interact with the kids and show them that officers are there to help them and to protect them. It is always a fun day for officers to be able to be out with the community they serve."

Each child who participated rode through obstacle courses and was told where he or she mastered skills. If help was needed, an officer was right there to assist.

The experience focused on physical, cognitive and motor skills. Farris pointed out that each child learned how to wear proper safety equipment, such as helmets, when riding; how to keep bikes maintained; how to follow the rules of the road; how to use proper hand signals; and how to always watch out for traffic.

Those instructions are extremely important, as the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's latest report states that 846 people were killed in bicycle accidents involving cars in 2019. Most bike-accident deaths occur between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

With the Bike Rodeo, Farris said children were able to learn exactly "how important it is to be safe on a bike and wear the proper safety equipment and to have a safe and fun summer."

Part of that fun included having the chance to win a new bike or a new helmet, and each participant received a free pass to the swimming pool. Members of the WoodBridge Health Campus served free hot dogs, chips and drinks.

The kids also were able to tour the Logansport Fire Department's Smoke-House, which was on site for the event.

Overall, Farris was glad the rain held off so the 30-year tradition could be held. "We live in a great community, and (this event) is a way for LPD, along with other city departments, to give back to the community who has supported us over the years."

Along with the police department and parks department, sponsors included Walmart, Cass County Towing, K&K Recovery, Homestead Realty Group, WoodBridge Health Campus and Drug-Free Cass County.

Reach Kristi Hileman at kristi.hileman@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150