Event Set for July 25 at McNearney Park
Ponderay is hosting its annual Bike Rodeo on July 25 at McNearney Park, inviting families and children to participate in a day focused on cycling safety and skill-building. The free community event will feature hands-on instruction, activities designed to teach bike-handling techniques, and giveaways including a raffle for one bicycle and free helmets distributed while supplies last.
First responders will be on hand to help fit helmets properly, ensuring participants have the right protective equipment. The event draws on a successful model that has been running annually since the city first organized a bike rodeo following recommendations from the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator.
Skills Training Through Play
The rodeo combines learning with low-pressure activities designed to build confidence. One highlight is a slow race—a competition where the winner is the last rider to cross the finish line without falling. This unconventional race focuses on balance and bike-handling skills rather than speed, encouraging children to develop control and stability.
Throughout the day, small courses and activities will emphasize different safety aspects of cycling, from proper braking technique to navigating obstacles. The format allows younger and less experienced riders to participate comfortably alongside their peers.
KayLeigh Miller, Ponderay’s Planning Director and Project Manager, expressed support for the initiative. “Any kind of activity we can provide that gets them out of the house and moving is always a positive thing,” Miller said. She added that safety instruction is equally important: “It’s super important for the young people to be safe. Anything we can do to help promote that, I think is fantastic.”
Expanding Cycling Infrastructure
The bike rodeo is part of a broader city effort to encourage cycling and safer transportation alternatives. Ponderay is currently working on a transportation alternatives grant that will fund infrastructure improvements. The city plans to extend bike paths along McNearney Road northward to the Field of Dreams facility by next year, creating safer routes for cyclists of all ages.
Community members interested in attending should bring their own bikes and helmets. Families are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for helmet fitting and to participate in multiple activities throughout the day.
For more information on local community events, visit the Sandpoint Summer Festival events page for a full calendar of Bonner County activities this season.