A rodeo is coming to Voorhees, but not the kind with cowboys, roping and bull riding.
No, the rodeo coming to Voorhees involves kids and their bikes, and instead of dirt and dust, there will be pavement on the ground.
On the morning of Aug. 27, the Cynergy Cycling Club of South Jersey is inviting young Voorhees residents ages 5 to 14 out for a free “bike rodeo” in the parking lot behind Carmike Ritz 16 Theater on Route 561.
From 9 a.m. to noon, kids at the event will learn the foundational skills of bike riding that can help them be safer when they are out on the road.
The event will include a circuit track where young riders can go through various stations, with volunteers trained by Cynergy Cycling Club on hand to instruct students on proper riding technique.
Just some of the topics that will be covered include stopping and starting, how to properly look behind when riding, how to be visible to motorists when on the road, how to go around obstacles, how to exit a driveway and how to safely cross intersections.
The event will also feature expert bike fittings and advice from bicycle shops in the area, as well as free bike inspections and prizes.
According to Glenn Page of the Cynergy Cycling Club and Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club, one of the event’s sponsors, the rodeo is a fun opportunity to help with a serious issue.
“It’s all about making kids safe out on the street as they ride around and getting them, and their parents, aware of these foundational skills so the kids can stay safe,” Page said.
Page said Cynergy Cycling Club is teaching its volunteers for the event based off certified procedures outlined by the League of American Bicyclists — a national, non-profit organization that promotes cycling education.
“We’re not just making this up. This is a standard program that’s offered all around the country, so we’re adapting it for Voorhees,” Page said.
Page said if this year’s inaugural Voorhees Bike Rodeo is successful, the cycling club hopes to make it a yearly tradition.
According to Page, the cycling club was especially encouraged to start this year’s event due to support from the Voorhees Police Department, another sponsor of the event. Other sponsors include Columbia Bank, Ritz Shopping Merchants and Virtua Health System.
“There are a lot of people volunteering to help this,” Page said. “It’s a demonstration of how much we’re concerned with the town.”
Page encourages as many kids and their parents as possible to make it out for the event on Aug. 27. Page said all children need to participate is a bike and a helmet.
Anyone with questions about the upcoming bike rodeo can visit www.cynergycycling.com or e-mail glennpage@comcast.net.
