Lakeport >> Lake County public safety departments want to emphasize education over enforcement.
Instead of fining a child or parent, the traumatizing experience of being put in the back of a squad car or an injury, the agencies want children on bicycles to learn the rules of the road and will host a Bicycle Safety Rodeo Saturday.
Retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer Larry Caravario had his granddaughter perform a test run of some of the rodeo courses Wednesday morning at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, where the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kaelyn Jeffries, 9, rode her bike in a figure eight making sure she stayed within the outlined formation. She also weaved through a set of cones without knocking them over.
Caravario said the skill courses are not timed and are meant to improve the child’s balance and overall bicycle riding ability.
“There will be children coming in training wheels,” he said. “Their faces going around the figure eight without tipping over, staying in the lines and not knocking cones over … the smile on their faces is probably the most important thing.” Second only to remembering what they learned once they leave.
And Caravario wants parents to participate too.
“If they stay and watch to see what their child is doing and not doing, that helps,” he said, noting that parents will get a chance to see where their child can improve.
CHP personnel will also be on hand to inspect bicycles and make sure each child has a properly fitted helmet.
Lake County agencies are asking for bicycle helmet donations, which can be dropped off at any county fire department or law enforcement office.
At the end of the rodeo, barbecued hot dogs and drinks will be available at no cost.
For more information, contact the Clear Lake CHP office at 279-0103.
The Lake County Fairgrounds are located at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.
