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Kids Can Ride in a Bike 'Rodeo' at Jackson Heights Street Fair

By Katie Honan | September 11, 2014 5:53pm
 The Safer Greener Streets Fair focused on city cycling will be held on Sept. 13 at Travers Park.
The Safer Greener Streets Fair focused on city cycling will be held on Sept. 13 at Travers Park.
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DNAinfo/Danielle Tcholakian

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Kids can ride through an obstacle-filled "bike rodeo" course at a festival this weekend that celebrates city cycling while pushing to create safer streets.

The Safer Greener Streets Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Travers Park, Rory Staunton Field and the 78th Street Play Street. 

It's organized by pedestrian advocacy group Make Queens Safer, with support from city agencies, local organizations and Bike New York, which is hosting the "bike bonanza."

"We applied to the bonanza and we decided to add our own thing to it," said Cristina Furlong, of Make Queens Safer, a grassroots organization formed last year in response to pedestrian deaths in the borough.

The bike-focused activities features a learn to ride class (which requires registration here), bike registration with the 115th Precinct, repairs and a kids bike swap.

Kids will be able to get fitted for helmets handed out by the Department of Transportation, which runs from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

A cyclist and Injury prevention coordinator at Elmhurst Hospital, Mark Hoffacker, will host the "bike rodeo," an obstacle course with cones that teaches kids practical skills for riding in the city. 

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Kids can learn how to signal while changing lanes and turn around to see what's behind them all without losing control of their bike.

There will also be a chance for kids to create their own traffic study to record some hazards on the streets around them.

Films focused on safety will be screened throughout the day. 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON SATURDAY'S EVENT

Make Queens Safer has organized rallies, marches and vigils for safer streets, but this is the first festival they're hosting, Furlong said.

"We're putting into the forefront this idea that devastating things happening on the road  we've held vigils and we've mourned with a lot of families," after accidents, she said. 

"We wanted to give back to our neighbors this fun event and let people recognize why we care so much."

For more information about the street fair, visit Make Queens Safer's website