St. Anthony Park Elementary School held a back-to-school bike rodeo Sept. 18.

First-grader Ayla Bornsztein takes her turn on the skills track at the St. Anthony Park Elementary School Bike Rodeo Sept. 18.

First-grader Ayla Bornsztein takes her turn on the skills track at the St. Anthony Park Elementary School Bike Rodeo Sept. 18. Photos by Kristal Leebrick

The school received a $2,500 Safe Routes to School grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to create a program that will help families who live within two miles of the school learn how to bike and walk safely to and from school.

Along with the bike rodeo, the money will go toward bike and scooter racks, safety curriculum and new supplies for the school patrols.

Bike rodeo participants traversed a course that included hazard avoidance, handling, starting and stopping, straight-line riding, turning and yielding. There was also a bike helmet–fitting station and a how-to bikerepair station.

And despite the rain, the event (organized by Dan Clark, the school’s technology coordinator) was well attended.

John Mark Lucas  helps fit a bike helmet onto Tianze Wen, a first-grader. Also in the photo are Greta Seppanen, fourth grade, and Elliot Lindsley, first grade.

John Mark Lucas helps fit a bike helmet onto Tianze Wen, a first-grader. Also in the photo are Greta Seppanen, fourth grade, and Elliot Lindsley, first grade. Lucas is a member of the District 12 Transportation Committee.

Bike rodeo coordinator Dan Clark (right) pumps air into the back tire of the bike belonging to fourth-grader Alice Wagner-Hemstad (left). The other student in the photo is fellow fourth-grader Siri Pattison.

Bike rodeo coordinator Dan Clark (right) pumps air into the back tire of the bike belonging to fourth-grader Alice Wagner-Hemstad (left). The other student in the photo is fellow fourth-grader Siri Pattison.

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