The Abington Police Department and Abington School District partnered for the Willow Hill Elementary School “Bike Rodeo” last week. This event was designed to instruct students on bicycle safety. It also encouraged students to be physically active and achieve 60 minutes of exercise daily.
First, Abington police officers gave students a safety talk. Next there was a bike safety course for the students to navigate that included skills such as signaling when turning and stopping, making safe turns and successfully riding through cones. The final segment of the bike rodeo was a family community fun ride. Parents joined their children on a 1.7 mile ride through the community and back to the school. There were refreshments available upon return.
A $500 grant was awarded from CAPT (Citizens and Police Together) for the program. Along with that money the Willow Hill Elementary School PTO contributed money for this event. Willow Hill Bike Rodeo t-shirts, water bottles and backpacks were distributed to the participants. Local businesses such as Giant Food Store, Produce Junction, Sports Authority and some local shops donated either money or items used for refreshments or raffle prizes. State Representative Madeline Dean’s office provided bicycle safety brochures for each student. A Willow Hill parent contacted the American Trauma Society Pennsylvania Division that donated water bottles and reflectors. Abington Police had been in contact with Target and they donated helmets for the students who did not have a helmet. Volunteers from the Abington Police Explorers program and high school student volunteers were helping out during the rodeo to ensure safety and to distribute items.
