Tampa Republic

The Tampa Police Department Bike Unit is hosting a Bike Safety Rodeo this weekend to teach kids from the community about bicycle safety. The event, which is part of the preparations for the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, aims to promote safe and responsible biking practices among children.

During the Bike Safety Rodeo, children will learn important skills such as how to properly wear a helmet, check for traffic at intersections, and navigate through an obstacle course. The event will take place on Bayshore Boulevard, between Rome Ave and Dakota Ave, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

In an effort to ensure the safety of all participants, the Tampa Police Department will be providing 200 free bicycle helmets to kids who do not have one yet. Additionally, officers will assist parents in registering their family bicycles with the Tampa Police Department. This registration process, which is free of charge, assigns an ID number to each bike, making it easier for officers to recover stolen bicycles.

The Tampa Police Department's bicycle rodeos align with the City of Tampa Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate all roadway deaths and life-altering injuries while promoting safe and equitable mobility. By promoting bicycle safety, the department hopes to reduce the number of citizens seriously injured or killed in traffic crashes.

Officer John Smith, a member of the Tampa Police Bicycle Operations and Response Unit, emphasizes the importance of bicycle safety education, stating, "We want to ensure that children in our community are equipped with the knowledge and skills to ride their bikes safely. By teaching them about helmet use, traffic awareness, and proper maneuvering, we can help prevent accidents and keep our streets safer."

To further support their mission, the Tampa Police Department encourages everyone to visit tampa.gov/police/info/bicycle-safety for more bicycle safety tips and to register their bicycles.

The Bike Safety Rodeo serves as a reminder that promoting safe biking practices is a collective effort. By raising awareness and educating both children and adults, the Tampa Police Department and the community can work together to create a safer environment for all road users.

For more information about the Bike Safety Rodeo and other initiatives by the Tampa Police Department, please contact the department at 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, Florida, or call (813) 274-8211.