Bike Rodeo lets children wrangle their skills with TAMUSA PD

June 24, 2023
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Campus, Community, University Police Dept.

Sgt. Roderick Lewis from Trinity University coaches a young cyclist during a timed relay activity during the University Police Department's Bike Rodeo on June 23, 2022. During this activity, Lewis timed each rider while encouraging them to move as slow as they could to help teach the importance of having control over your bike while riding. Photo by Amber Esparza

Sgt. Gerardo Duran gives his granddaughter Ruby some words of encouragement after fastening her helmet before activities began during the University Police Department's Bike Rodeo on June 23. This was Sgt. Duran's second year helping with the event and his granddaughter's first time participating. Photo by Amber Esparza

A young cyclist lines up for relay activities in the basketball pavilion during the UPD's Bike Rodeo on June 23. Children ages 6 to 12 were encouraged to participate in the training event about bike safety and maintenance. Photo by Amber Esparza

TAMUSA Patrol Officer Susan Gonzales and an event volunteer perform maintenance on a bike during the Bike Rodeo parade in front of Classroom Hall on June 23. The cyclists rode from the Patriot's Casa to the Central Academic Building and back. Photo by Amber Esparza

Cpl. Julianna Torres from Trinity University coaches a young cyclist during a relay activity in the basketball pavilion at the UPD's Bike Rodeo on June 23. Officers Torres and Lewis both said TAMUSA's Bike Rodeo event has inspired them to want to hold similar events for the community at their university in the future. Photo by Amber Esparza

Horns honked and bells rang as eight children on bicycles rode in a parade from Patriots’ Casa to the Central Academic Building at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

The University Police Department hosted Bike Rodeo, a safety and handling training program for children ages 6 to 12 June 23.

The participants were children, grandchildren and friends of A&M-San Antonio staff.

“We don’t get to do this kind of event throughout the year,” Officer Karen Tucker said. “We wanted to offer something to the campus community children.”

The young cyclists colored and watched “Bluey” during the first part of the program while officers inspected everyone’s bike gear and made sure participants were hydrated.

The ball really got rolling when the Bike Rodeo parade started.

Sgt. Roderick Lewis was met with a chorus of children squealing “Yes!” when he asked them if they were excited to go on a “fun little ride.”

Lewis is a university police officer at Trinity University, whose police department partnered with A&M-San Antonio’s for the rodeo.

Four officers on bicycles and one patrol vehicle escorted the cyclists as they wheeled through their trail. Some university staff came out of their offices to cheer the children on.

Cpl. Juliana Torres, another Trinity officer who volunteered for the bike ride, led the parade of helmeted kids on her own bicycle.

“I love to volunteer,” Torres said.

Analyssa Gonzales,7, headed the parade of children. Her dad, Valdemar Gonzalez, cheered her on, and he said that he took Analyssa to the Bike Rodeo because her “nana” works at the university.

Following the bike parade, participants took a Bike Rodeo Safety Course, where they learned that bicycle riders should be able to touch the ground with both feet when mounting a bicycle. They also learned why it’s important to always wear a helmet when riding.

“It protects your head,” Analyssa said after raising her hand to answer the question of why wearing helmets is essential.

After completing the safety course, the kids took on four different obstacle courses on their bicycles: a straight line test, a single obstacle test, a balance training test and a circle steering test.

The rodeo ended with more bicycle fun and little gold trophies for all participants.

About the Author

Xochilt Garcia

Editor in Chief

Xochilt Garcia is a junior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio majoring in communications. In her downtime Xochilt enjoys reading anything she can get her hands on and listening to music in all forms. Xochilt hopes to become a full-time reporter, traveling and bringing light to the stories that matter to the community.