Little Alexis Plummer is at the head of the long line of bikes at the Thursday, May 12 Bike Rodeo. She was accompanied on the safety course by her dad, David Plummer. It was a beautiful day for little bike riders and their parents.
The Cook County Bike Safety Rodeo was held at the Cook County Community Center on May 12. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and 109 kids came out to ride the safety course—and to watch the adventurous Twin Ports Trials Riders.
Three members of the Trial Riders Club dazzled attendees with their riding skills. Rudy O’Brian, one of the riders, said the club is an informal group of riders who get together to ride and practice. After he jumped his bike up a stack of wooden pallets to balance on a picnic table and then bounced along the rocks bordering the North Shore Skate Park, he stopped to talk about his talents. He stressed that he didn’t start with such impressive tricks. O’Brian said, “You start very small. As you accomplish a little jump, you go a little bigger and bigger…”
And as helmets were checked and bikes were adjusted and kids practiced starting and stopping and signaling, O’Brian, Ryan Johnson and Peter Lillesve of the Trial Riders continued their demonstration, even hopping over a reclining person! They rode and jumped around the dozens of bikers and skaters at the skate park—wearing helmets of course!
Left: Kids watched in amazement as the daredevil Twin Ports Trial Riders performed gravity-defying stunts in the North Shore Skate Park. Top: Becky Sturm of the Cook County Ambulance makes the proper adjustments to a bike helmet. Above: Jerry Hiniker of Superior North Outdoor Center conducts a safety inspection.
The Bike Rodeo, put together by the Cook County “Safe Routes to School” program ensured that before riding the course, children had appropriate head protection. For kids who didn’t have helmets or whose helmets did not meet safety guidelines, Bike Rodeo partners provided free helmets. One-hundred happy kids tackled the safety course with shiny new helmets.
Girl Scouts offered sustenance for the energetic attendees, happily serving popcorn, hot dogs, juicy orange slices, and more.
Cook County’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Coordinator Kristina DeArruda Wharton said the Bike Rodeo was a success because of help from 25 adult volunteers, 16 Girl Scout volunteers, and numerous partners: Superior North Outdoor Center, North Shore Hospital and Ambulance Service, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Cook County Law Enforcement, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, Cook County Schools, the City of Grand Marais, and numerous businesses.
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