In a team effort between Willow Hill Elementary School and the Abington Police Department, the third annual Willow Hill Bike Rodeo took place on Friday, June 1, 2018. With the summer fast approaching, the event aimed to keep children safe by instilling the importance of bicycle safety, and establishing best practices, including:
- Providing helmets to students who didn’t have them
- Properly fitting helmets to students’ heads
- Registering bicycles with the APD to ensure if a bike is lost, the serial number will be on file
- Giving out “safety swag bags” to keep bike safety top of mind for students
- Offering tips to children and their families about bike safety
In addition, attendees were able to choose one of four specially designed courses to practice their bike skills, including stopping, turning, weaving through cones and using hand signals. Following the completion of the course, certificates were awarded to all participants, prior to the police leading families on a community fun ride through the neighborhood. Upon returning to the school, prizes were raffled off and refreshments served.
The Willow Hill Bike Rodeo was made possible by the Willow Hill Elementary PTO and a grant from Citizens and Police Together (CAPT), in addition to support from the Police Explorers, Abington Township Public Works, Township commissioners, community members, local businesses and Willow Hill teachers and staff.