Education was the focus of the Family Bike Safety Rodeo Saturday morning in Albert Lea.

The event was free for children and adults to help everyone learn the rules of the road and more about bike safety.

“Most people think it’s for the kids but we encourage parents to learn, too,” organizer Lynn Scheevel said. “If they learn the rules and right techniques that’s going to help carry over.”

The event at Southwest Middle School featured different stations designed to help kids learn hands-on how helmets should be fitted and how to inspect their bikes. Other stations included a video program about bike safety and Albert Lea police officers teaching about the rules of the road. Local firefighters also had kids ride their bikes around cones to practice hand signals and starting and stopping.

“We’re really excited with the turnout,” organizer John Schulz said.

Schulz and Scheevel are with the Albert Lea Bike Alliance. They were both excited about how many people showed up even though it was raining during the event, which was from 9 to 11 a.m.

“We’re fitting lots of kids and adults with helmets,” Scheevel said. “It’s a family thing.”

Scheevel said they definitely plan to do the event again next year. Albert Lean Jim Lee brought 6-year-old Hope to get fitted for a helmet.

“The main thing is to get her to learn the safety,” Lee said.

He said he was glad to be at the event to help Hope learn about riding bikes safely. Just in the first half of the event more than 50 kids and adults were fitted with free helmets. They also got free bike inspections from Martin’s Cycling & Fitness.

The event was sponsored by the Statewide Health Improvement Program, Pioneering Healthier Communities, the Vitality Project and the Freeborn County Medical Society.

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