COCHRANE— Joining forces to help ensure youth stay safe when riding their bikes, The Kiwanis Club of Cochrane has partnered with Bike Cochrane to bring a Free Bike Safety Day to the community.
It has been exciting planning an event that will hopefully become a signature activity for the Kiwanis Club, said president Ronald Gosselin.
“We really wanted to go in July so there was some of the summer left for the kids to enjoy their bikes,” Gosselin said. “It’s going to be a fun event.”
Free Bike Safety Day will take place on July 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Garmin building.
The Kiwanis Club of Cochrane was excited to partner with Bike Cochrane to present Bike Safety Day to the community.
“We’re all for doing stuff in collaboration with others,” Gosselin said.
The partners faced extreme adversity in bringing the event to the community. The date of Bike Safety Day was rescheduled multiple times and contingencies were built into the event due to COVID-19 public health measures.
With the elimination of public health measures in the province, Gosselin said, they are pleased to finally be bringing the event to the community.
Bike Safety Day is open to a maximum of 100 youth between the ages of four and 14.
Safety remains a top priority during the event, Gosselin said, explaining the club is working to encourage social distancing during the event and youth can wear a mask if they choose.
During the event youth will be divided into groups of 25 and flow through five stations that touch on bike safety on the road and the trails, a bike course in the parking lot, the LaunchPad flow park, receive goodie bags and a bike and helmet inspection. Any bikes needing service or youth needing new helmets will receive gift cards if required.
At the end of the day, youth will also be able to take home a pamphlet detailing what they learned during the course.
“It’s not going to be a thing they see once and then forget,” Gosselin said.
During Free Bike Day, parents will be able to attend a presentation to learn about maintaining their child’s bike.
Like all of its service projects Free Bike Day is geared toward helping the community's children.
“Kiwanis really has a niche in terms of trying to help the low-income kids,” Gosselin said.
This need has only increased during COVID-19.
The Kiwanis Club engages in many community events throughout the year. Signature activities include the annual Kids' Christmas Toy Project, Kamp Kiwanis, the Bike Recycling Project and the return to school backpack program.
“These are nice causes for us to support as we can,” Gosselin said.
