More than 120 kids and their parents took to the Montesano High School parking lot June 17 for the annual Bill Brookshire Memorial Bike Rodeo hosted by the Montesano police and fire departments.

The event is a way for the community to get to know their police and fire departments and see firsthand their efforts to keep the city’s youth safe while riding their bikes. Montesano Police Department Lt. Jay Staten says bicycle safety is never more important than during the summer months.

“It gives those primary skills in bike riding to kids who are going to be on their bikes a lot more in the summer months, and we hope by teaching them those skills they’re going to be safe when riding their bikes,” Staten said.

Kids were encouraged to bring their bikes to the event so they could run through a safety course set up by the police department and to have their bikes checked for needed maintenance by the fire department.

“It’s the same course we use every year, it gives kids the opportunity to learn how to ride their bikes in various situations,” Staten explained.

Some of those practice situations included navigating within a circle, making 90 degree turns, zig-zagging through cones and recognizing different traffic signs such as “stop” and “yield.”

Fire Chief Corey Rux and the fire department spent the afternoon checking bike mechanics and providing any necessary maintenance on the bikes before they could be safely ridden.

“For the most part we just did a once-over the vehicle to make sure it’s operating safely,” Rux said.

The once-over entailed checking breaks, oiling chains and adjusting breaks. Rux noted they took off three sets of training wheels, “which is pretty exciting,” he said.

Every child in attendance was given a goody bag filled with items to help make biking safer such as reflector bracelets, reflectors for jackets and coloring books dedicated to bicycle safety.

The event, made possible by donations, pulled in more than $4,200 dollars this year. Those funds went to setting up the event itself, but more importantly it provided for the 100-plus helmets given out to kids and the replacement of 25 helmets that did not meet safety regulations. The funds also helped to provide the 12 bikes that were raffled off at the event.

“I think it’s another example of a great community event,” Rux said. “It’s what makes Montesano unique. You really have a sense of community throughout these events.”