THE BIKE RODEO IS IN TOWN!

To encourage kids to get moving, Hudson Health Plan, an MVP Health Care® Company, is bringing its Bicycle Safety Rodeo to the annual Spring Valley Day on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at Memorial Park. Hudson will show children how to be safe while riding a bike, share nutrition tips, and give away kid-friendly plastic portion plates to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity.

At the Spring Valley Bicycle Safety Rodeo, officers from the Spring Valley Police Department will provide children and their parents with personal instruction on the rules of the road, and demonstrate the proper way to strap on a bike helmet for maximum protection. Because head injuries are the most common cause of bike fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the officers will stress helmet use, which can reduce head injury risk by 85 percent. “Helmets should fit snugly, sit level on the head, and be tight enough to stay stable,” Mr. Santiago explains.

The police officers will also offer free bicycle inspections to make sure that the brakes work, the seat is at the right height, and the tires are in good shape. After the inspection, kids will be able to try out what they’ve learned by navigating their bikes on a mini-obstacle course, where they will be expected to follow traffic signs, use turn signals, and keep an eye out for potential hazards. As an extra bonus, all children who participate will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win free bikes and helmets.