Barton County children ages 5 to 12 years can have a great start to a safe summer by participating in the Bike Safety Rodeo the morning of Friday, May 29. It will be held at the small ball field on the northwest side of Brit Spaugh Park, near 22nd and Morton St.
All children who wish to participate must be pre-registered by their parents at the Barton County Sheriff’s Office by Wednesday, May 27.  
The morning event starts with a Bike Trade-In at 8 a.m. Many re-conditioned bikes have been given to community children in past years and organizers are hoping that youth who have outgrown some of their bikes will want to trade them in for a size that fits them better, said Janel Rose at the Barton County Health Department.
All youths who trade in bikes will be fitted for free bikes first.
The safety rodeo will begin with check-in at 8:20 a.m. for all other participants and conclude with snacks. Children will be dismissed about 10 a.m. Parents should bring their children with their bikes and helmets if they have them. Parents are asked to stay with their children for the bike rodeo.
Following check-in, participants will have safety presentations on safe bike riding and rules of the road, and complete a bike course in the park.
Free bikes from Barton County Landfill, reconditioned by Ellsworth Correctional Facility, and new helmets from the health department will be given only to children who need them. Parents who want to request a bike and/or helmet for their child who does not have one should do so at pre-registration at the Sheriff’s Office. A limited number of bikes and helmets of various sizes will be available. Bike helmets will be fitted by health department staff.
Barton County Health Department, Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Great Bend Police Department, Barton County Landfill and Be Well Barton County are the sponsor organizations.  
For more information call the Barton County Health Department, 793-1902, or the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, 793-1876.