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It was bikes and more bikes Friday afternoon at Shelley Elementary School in American Fork. The students were holding their annual bike rodeo where students learn about bike safety.
This year's rodeo was special because the Utah Department of Transportation had helped the school get a Safe Routes to School federal grant that provided free bikes, helmets and other bike items to students. The bikes were awarded to the winners of the school's bike safety essay contest.
Students rode their bikes through six safety stations, riding through courses, learning hand signals and getting their helmets checked for the correct fit.
Shelley Elementary School has no school buses. Most of the students are driven to school in carpools, but school principal Cindy Davis said she is hoping money from UDOT and American Fork City that will be used to repair and build sidewalks will encourage more students to walk or ride bikes to school, decreasing the number of students coming in carpools. She said the fair would help, "so that children can start to walk and bike safely."
Ten-year-old Abby McBride came to the bike rodeo to see if she won the essay contest. Meanwhile, she had her bike checked by Bike Peddler, an American Fork-based bike shop. Riley Smith, who was doing the checks, said they look to make sure the pedals, brakes and the handlebars work to lessen the risk of a crash. Abby's bike passed.
"We were shocked," said her mother, Mary McBride.
Next, Abby was off to make sure her helmet fit correctly.
American Fork firefighter Dean Perkins was checking helmets. He said they should fit snuggly and be adjusted so they stay on. If the helmet is big enough that another person can fit their hand between the helmet and the child's head it is too loose and won't protect the head as well.
"It's not too big, It's not too small," Perkins said.
He said the strap should fit snugly underneath the chin.
He adjusted 5-year-old Cooper Anderson's helmet. Cooper's mother, Mya Anderson, said he had his little brother Carter, 8, spend between 3 to 5 hours a week on their bikes and they always have to wear their helmets.
• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.