In a joint effort to earn an award and help children learn about bicycle safety sophomore Kate Rizzieri set up a “Bicycle Rodeo” May 19 at St. Margaret’s School from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. According to Rizzieri, the rodeo “focused on teaching kids from five to eight bike safety and skills.”

Rizzieri came up with the idea as a project to obtain her Girl Scout Gold Award.  To obtain the award, one must come up  with an idea for a project, complete it, and get it approved.

Rizzieri worked hard to put together the event, which included a bike inspection table, a police officer from Bel Air Police Department, different tables about bicycle safety, and representatives from Bicycle Connection.  Rizzieri also got McDonald’s to sponsor the Rodeo by serving drinks.

According to Rizzieri, the day “went really smoothly. I only had a little under two dozen children, but I was prepared for over 100 people.”

Being in the National Art Honor Society also gave Rizzieri an upper hand in creating a successful day. “I had some of my friends help,” Rizzieri said, “They made all of the signs and posters.”

Being that she was promoting bicycle safety, Rizzieri was most happy that nothing went wrong physically. “No one got injured,” Rizzieri said. She attributes this to the personalities of the child participants. “No crazy kids got passed my safety,” Rizzieri said.

Overall the day was a success, as Rizzieri got her point across informed children and parents alike.  “Parents came up to me and told me that they learned things about bike safety that they didn’t know before,” Rizzieri said.

Chioma Iheoma is an A&E Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.