Springfield chiefs announce June bike rodeo, summer safety push; bike patrols to increase downtown

Jacob King, Springfield’s fire chief, and Allison Elliott, chief of police, on the department’s May “Chief Chat” outlined a series of summer safety initiatives centered on bicycle safety and youth outreach. Allison Elliott said the city will host a bike rodeo on June 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., starting at Eagle City, for children ages 6 to 13 and that organizers are accepting registrations through roughly a week before the event.

The rodeo will be run in partnership with Springfield Fire Rescue and the Clark County Combined Health District, officials said. ‘‘It’s a great event, a great opportunity,’’ Elliott said, noting the community response team and several bike-trained officers will be in attendance to lead safety exercises and outreach. Organizers thanked sponsors named on the program, including International Harvester Credit Union, Academy Sports (which donated some bikes), Chick-fil-A and the Clark County Combined Health District.

King and Elliott emphasized practical safety measures for cyclists. King urged riders to wear visible or reflective clothing and to follow traffic rules when riding on roadways: ‘‘Wear that life jacket even if you can swim,’’ he said in a separate waterways safety point during the program, underscoring the chiefs’ wider summer-safety message. The chiefs clarified that while cyclists should generally use the roadway and obey Ohio traffic laws, riders may move off the roadway or onto sidewalks when safety requires it, with extra caution for younger children.

Officials said pre-registration is preferred; participants must be able to ride a two-wheel bicycle. The chiefs asked parents and caregivers to check event materials for exact registration deadlines and safety requirements.

The departments also announced an increased bike-patrol presence downtown this summer to support safe bike and pedestrian activity and credited local funding from a Clark levy vote for helping maintain bike pathways and park opportunities.

The chiefs closed the segment by encouraging residents to register early and to watch department channels for additional event details.