Among other things, police officers directed kids through cone setups for a makeshft obstacle course and showed them hand signals during the township’s bike rodeo on Aug. 9.
The township hosted its first bike rodeo at two locations on Aug. 9 – Pine Acres bike park, then Memorial Park – with the goal of teaching kids the importance of bike safety.
Police officers brought bikes of their own as they directed participants through cone setups for a makeshift obstacle course and showed them hand signals used to direct others. Each site also had a small obstacle course of its own. Both rodeos were open to kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
“I’m hoping the kids get some safety tips out of this,” said officer Derek Mottershead. “It’s all about bike safety mostly. A little bit of bike skills.”
“We’re teaching them that when they’re on the road, (to use) hand signals, like signaling right turns, left turns,” noted township employee Maranda Rasmus.
Deptford partnered with Cross County Connection, Cooper Hospital and Safe Kids Southern New Jersey, each of which has the same mission of teaching the importance of bike safety. They had information vendors set up at each site, and council members were at both rodeo locations to talk with the young participants and their parents.
“Anytime we can get the police department and the children together, of course the mayor and council, it’s a great day to come over,” explained Councilman Ken Barnshaw. “It sets the stage for what we’re trying to do, but most importantly, it’s about safety.
“These children are going to get an education on bike safety (to) make them think about what they’re doing before they go on the sidewalk, the streets – to get a nice helmet and things of that nature,” he added. “It’s another great outreach program from Deptford Township.”
The township also provided kids with free helmets donated by local bicycle businesses the Peddlers Shop and Action Wheels, who had vendors set up as well.
“They tie into the theme of promoting safety with giving away the bike helmets,” observed Mayor Paul Medany. “They actually have bike checks. Kids can get their bikes checked, their tire pressure checked and change and all that stuff.
A lot of kids get hurt, and we want them to be safe riding those streets.”
