Kids can enter bike rodeo, explore a bike trail

Tue May 04 2010
Posted May 5, 2010
7,468

Johnston, IA By Todd Erzen terzen@dmreg.com Johnston's version of Bike to Work Week is being taken to new levels as the bike rodeo hosted by the police department last year is joined by a trail ride and several other sponsoring agencies and businesses. Van Dee's, Irwin's Bike & Sport, Johnston Parks and Recreation, the Johnston Public Library, Johnston Community Education and the Johnston Partnership for a Healthy Community will all be involved at this year's May 15 event. "We are all working to serve our community and it makes sense if we do this together," said Johnston Community Education director Nancy Buryanek. Officer Rich Kirkeby said the goal is to attract at least 50 participants this year and, through cooperation, avoid scheduling conflicts that may have contributed to about 10 bicycle riders showing up last year. He added that the city will begin handing out bicycle registrations for the first time during the bike rodeo in order to assist with the ongoing problem of identifying lost or stolen bicycles during warm-weather months. "I think this will be a much better program," Kirkeby said. "I take my hat off to all the other groups that got involved." The free event will be held at the Pioneer Hi-Bred International parking lot on the corner of Pioneer Parkway and South Drive. Safety and maintenance checks by the staff of Irwin's Bike & Sport will be followed by the bike rodeo obstacle course from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Irwin's owner Jack Davis said his goal is to help "kids progress safely from riding in the driveway to the sidewalk or the street." A three- or four-mile trail ride will follow the rodeo from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Ice cream awaits at the end, compliments of Van Dees. Parks department director Ron Ward said getting adults as well as children comfortable with the city's trail system is one of his goals. "Even though we've got maps and are installing new signage, people still need to hear about how safe and easy the trails are to use," Ward said.