Submitted by the City of Swift Current
The City of Swift Current, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Kiwanis Club of Swift Current, is excited to announce that the annual Bike Safety event is set to take place on Wednesday, May 24th at Riverdene Park from 4-7 p.m. The event will feature helmet and bike inspections, safety awareness, fun cycling activities on the Sheldon Kennedy Rink, and great prizes. Participants will also be treated to free hotdogs from 5-6 p.m.
In addition to the activities taking place on the Bike Safety Course, participants will also be able to try out the NEW Kiwanis Bike Park, located just up the pathway on 13th Avenue Northeast. This unique bike park is designed in the shape of a bicycle, providing both children and adults an opportunity to practice navigating the wheel-shaped paths, and to work on stopping and starting at various stop signs installed throughout the park. The completion of this project is the result of a partnership between the Kiwanis Club of Swift Current and the City of Swift Current to celebrate the Kiwanis Club’s 100th year.
“One of the Kiwanis objectives is to promote youth and provide them with opportunities, and this project does just that, benefiting the youth in our community by giving them something different to do where they can have fun working on their biking skills,” explained Swift Current Kiwanis Club’s Youth Services Co-Chair, Elden Moberg.
The Bike Safety event will follow the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute’s Bicycle Safety Week which takes place May 14th to 20th. The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute emphasizes cycling safety, with the following key points:
• Cycling is an activity that requires skills and behaviours gained through training and practice.
• Cycling-related injuries are preventable.
• The majority of cycling-related injuries can be prevented by practicing safe cycling behaviours, following the rules of the road, and wearing a bicycle helmet.
• One out of every three Saskatchewan children hospitalized with a bicycle-related injury suffers a head injury.
• Helmet use reduces the risk of head injury and brain injury by up to 85%.
• Adult cyclists, parents, and caregivers must model appropriate cycling behaviour for young child cyclists.
The City of Swift Current, Saskatchewan Health Authority and Kiwanis Club of Swift Current would like to thank all event sponsors, community volunteers, and partners for supporting the 2023 Bike Safety event.
For more information on Bike Safety and rules of the road visit www.skprevention.ca/safety.
