Several Elkhart groups come together to teach bike safety to kids

ELKHART, Ind. -- Today the Elkhart Kiwanis Club, Elkhart Health Department, and Elkhart PD hosted a Bike Safety Rodeo at the Tolson Center.

The event was held to educate kids on bike safety, teaching them how to travel safely and what gear they need to wear for protection.

Participating children were welcome to choose free helmets and safety gear, as well as bring their own bikes for any needed repairs.

Elkhart officers served up hot dogs, snacks, and drinks, and gave away free bikes to two lucky winners. All of the kids could navigate an obstacle course and find out how fast they could ride from the PD's Speed Awareness Monitor. 

Wesley Kuric, from the Elkhart County Health Department told ABC57:

"The Elkhart Kiwanis Club reached out to us, and we coordinated to put together this safety event. Basically, what we're doing here is we're teaching kids all about bike safety, we're giving out free helmets, we're giving out safety gear, and then we're running them through a bike safety course where they learn important essentials like starting and stopping, slaloming through a little challenge. We even have a little recorder here to see how fast they're going that the police department helps set up, so it's a very fun event.

I just want to give a big shout out to all our partners here. We got the Tolson Center, we got the Police Department, we have the Pumpkin Vine Trail, we have the Elkhart Kiwanis, and they all made this happen. So, I just want to give a big shout out to them."

He also told us that there are more free helmets available at the Health Department, should any family need them.