Bike rodeos

We present many short bicycle skills courses (usually known as bike rodeos) for neighborhood groups, scouts, etc. These 1-4 hour events introduce basic traffic concepts and bike-handling skills, with a chance to practice them in a car-free setting like a closed parking lot, for children (K-3, 4-8), youth, or adults. Besides how to fit a helmet and check the mechanical safety of their bikes, students learn the meaning of “yield” and “right of way” (and how to watch out for others who haven’t!). They also practice steering around obstacles, stopping and starting safely and efficiently, and scanning for road hazards and other traffic around them. Youth and adult programs also include practicing evasive maneuvers. All are based on the League of American Bicyclists’ Traffic Skills curriculum.

Standard Bike Rodeo

Up to 50 students / $750

Rodeo Includes:

  • League of American Bicyclists Certified lead instructor and two additional OCBC-trained assistant instructors
  • Mandatory, free, Traffic Skills Intro training at OCBC for six of your volunteers/staff, and one hour of on-site volunteer orientation at rodeo time
  • Delivery, set-up, and removal of all necessary materials to your location within Cuyahoga County (additional transportation costs may apply for locations outside our county)
  • Two hours Rodeo time, accommodating up to 25 students/hour
  • Insurance coverage (on which partner organizations can be named as additional insured)
  • Additional students can be accommodated for $200 per 25 students (adds one hour of Rodeo time)
  • Six loaner bicycles and two balance bikes for participants’ use (a full fleet of 35 bikes can be provided for an additional charge).

 

Partner organizations are responsible for providing:

  • At least one month advance notice to schedule a Rodeo, and your volunteers’ pre-event training (see below).
  • Advanced publicity and registration for events open to the public, or prior/post communication with limited participants (such as a school group).
  • Two weeks notice to be named as additional insured for liability coverage
  • Minimum of six adults to staff registration tables and rodeo stations at the event, who have received Traffic Skills training at OCBC or elsewhere.
  • A smooth, flat, clean paved area at least 60’x100′ (e.g. a car-parking lot with two rows of ten spaces and an aisle between them).
  • Printing of provided materials
  • Registration tables and chairs, available restrooms, two tents (or indoor area) for registration, and a space with an electric outlet that can be darkened enough for video presentation.

Helmets are required for all rodeo participants. Awarding new helmets (and bike locks, if possible) to rodeo “graduates” is a great idea; besides valued basic equipment, it provide a lasting reminder of their accomplishments and responsibilities they’ve learned. Helmets, locks, and other products (tire levers, patch kits, pant straps, etc.) are available to partner groups at a discount, and can be delivered to the event. We can bring loaner helmets, but those entail additional health precautions. Helmets can also be obtained directly from Safe Kids Coalition here locally, Helmets R Us (the cheapest we’ve found, but most difficult to fit and adjust) or other groups.

Our Rodeo Outline explains our format: it is designed to be simple, compact, and scalable, and is based on material from the League of American Bicyclists and this very detailed guide from Cornell University.