Island Reporter: Bike Rodeo stresses safety, being alert on island roads

By JEFF LYSIAK, May 19, 2011

Last Thursday afternoon, more than 80 youngsters and their parents attended the annual Bike Rodeo & Safety Fair, staged at The Sanibel School's outdoor pavilion, where riders of all ages were taught the most important lessons of riding safely.

"It's important for all riders, not just the youngsters, to know how to properly use the shared use paths on the islands," said Mary Miller, president of the Sanibel Bicycle Club, at last week's Bike Rodeo & Safety Fair. "Everybody should know that you have to be more aware of bikes using the roads here on the islands."

According to Miller, one of the most critical safety measures taught during the event included the importance of wearing protective head gear. She and her fellow Bike Club members demonstrated the point using an egg — wrapped in a thick foam pocket — dropped from shoulder height. Seeing the fragile egg survive a fall from four feet onto concrete was a real eye-opener for the young participants.

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Kudos to the Sanibel Bicycle Club, Billy's Bikes, the Kiwanis Club, the Sanibel Police Department and other volunteers that put on this important safety training.