CRANBERRY TWP — The wheels were turning Saturday, June 24, at Cranberry Township Community Park, where a chain of events improved the safety of children on their bicycles.

The township police department’s annual Bike Rodeo was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. under a cloudy sky, which did not deter parents from bringing their children to the event.

Lt. William Ahlgren, of the township police department, said in past years the rodeo drew 40 or so people, but more than 20 attended in just the first hour Saturday.

Ahlgren, who rode along with many of the children, said families could pick up swag bags containing safety items, coloring books, Dairy Queen and Fun Fore All coupons, and other goodies.

The Passavant Injury Prevention Project and Cranberry Township EMS collaborated to check the helmets on the tots in attendance and provided helmets to those with inferior or unsafe ones.

Trek Bicycle experts then checked each child’s bike to ensure its safety before they were unleashed on the course set up in a parking lot at the park.

Ahlgren explained the first challenge was a slow-riding course that teaches riders to maintain control of their bikes.

Next, kids entered the fast-riding course, which saw kids pedaling away while remaining inside a narrow course.

The slalom course allowed the youngsters to practice balance and brake control, and the fourth course saw children ride as fast as they could before stopping at a stop sign.

“Kids learn to put the pedals in the correct position for starting and stopping and learn to utilize the handbrakes while riding to maintain control,” Ahlgren said.

The young riders learned to navigate sharp turns in one area of the lot, rode a figure eight in another area to learn to deal with cross traffic, navigated a maze to maintain control, and challenged themselves by riding around inside a small square.

“They’ve got to be able to do turns inside that little box,” Ahlgren said. “It’s tight.”

The major goal of the Bike Rodeo is to produce safe cyclists on township roads.

“The takeaway is more confidence in riding and learning safety,” Ahlgren said.

Jeanmarie Daugherty and Donna Galbraith are retired registered nurses from UPMC Passavant Hospital who manned the Injury Prevention Program booth at the rodeo.

They said the program, which is supported by the Passavant Hospital Foundation, was initiated by nurses 20 years ago as a community service project.

On Saturday, the affable nurses checked the fit of attendees’ bike helmets. If they found problems, a new helmet was handed out.

The nurses gave out about three helmets in the first hour of the rodeo.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Daugherty said of the event. “It’s an educational opportunity for the community, and we get to meet the folks.”

Galbraith said not using a helmet and an improper fit are the two main concerns regarding the headgear.

“It is a law in Pennsylvania that kids must wear a helmet up to the age of 12, but everyone’s brain is important, so everyone needs to wear a helmet when they are on anything with wheels, including scooters, skateboards and hoverboards,” she said.

Benjamin Schar, 10, of Cranberry Township, took pictures of the Cranberry EMS bicycle, which carries basic and advanced life support supplies, including an automated electronic defibrillator and intravenous needles and solution.

Benjamin said in addition to the cool black EMS bike, his favorite thing at the rodeo was getting his helmet properly fitted.

His parents, Bill and Elizabeth Schar, said they came to the rodeo to ensure Benjamin will ride his bike safely.

“It’s very helpful and useful,” Bill said.

“I did the Bike Rodeo when it was in the parking lot of Passavant Hospital many years ago,” Elizabeth said.

Matt Nickl, executive director at Cranberry EMS, said he gave children tips and tricks on safe and effective riding as he pedaled along with them on his EMS bike.

He said the Bike Rodeo is just one of the awesome events in the township.

“It’s amazing for the community,” Nickl said of the Bike Rodeo. “It allows good engagement (with police and EMS personnel) and really promotes safety.”

Hetal Rajderkar brought her children, ages 6 and 3, to the rodeo because of their recent interest in riding bikes.

“Here, trained professionals are teaching them,” Rajderkar said.

She and her husband did not have adult bikes, but after their children showed interest in riding, they went out and bought themselves a pair.

“Whatever keeps them moving and burns off their energy,” Rajderkar said.

She was impressed at the skill her son and daughter displayed in the various courses.

“They are maneuvering the track really well and maintaining their speed, which is something I worry about,” Rajderkar said.

Ahlgren deemed the 2023 bike rodeo a success.

“It’s a fun, controlled, safe environment,” he said.