Platteville Area Optimist Club Hosts 5th Annual Bike Safety Rodeo

PLATTEVILLE, WI – As summer approaches, more kids will be riding their bikes, so the Platteville Area Optimist Club would like to make sure the children of the community are a little safer this summer by addressing bicycle safety. While riding bicycles can be a great outdoor activity for the family to enjoy, it is very important that your child understands the safety guidelines before rushing out on the streets. Kids Health reports that approximately half a million kids are seriously injured in bike-related accidents every year in the U.S. Of that number, most of the accidents could have been avoided had the child been wearing a helmet.

The Platteville Area Optimist Club plans to hold a Bicycle Safety Rodeo for Platteville area kids of all ages. The event will take place on April 21st from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Westview School. “In many ways it takes an entire community to make sure our children grow up in a safe environment,” said event organizer, Christine Storlie, “With this program, we hope to do our part in ensuring that local children learn how to bike safely.”

Each child who participates in the event with get a free bike helmet and string backpack. Snacks and bottled water will be provided to the participants. The helmets, backpacks, snacks, and bottled water are funded by donations from local businesses, including Edward Jones – Bob Hundhausen, Helker Jewelry, and American Family Insurance – Robb Paquette.

The Platteville Area Optimist Club has been promoting youth safety in the community for seven years and has been active in the community since 2009.  Other programs and service projects that the Club is involved in include an Internet Safety Program for grade school kids, the Tri-Star Soccer Skills Contest, the Essay Contest, and the Oratorical Contest. For more information on the Platteville Area Optimist Club, check out our page on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/pvilleoptimist or contact George Krueger at 608-732-7801.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 75,000 adult and youth members in 2,600 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. Youth safety is a popular focus for Optimist Clubs, with more than 1,400 clubs participating in safety activities annually. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.