Northern Rockies RCMP revive local bike rodeo

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Organizations in Fort Nelson have organized an event this weekend to educate on bike safety.

Revived by the Northern Rockies RCMP detachment, a bike rodeo will be held on Saturday, June 27th, at the Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre in Fort Nelson.

Northern Rockies Fire Rescue will also be on hand as well.

Bike rodeos are events that promote proper cycling etiquette and safety, helping children develop good riding habits, according to Cst. Dean Compagna of the Northern Rockies RCMP.

The lead organizer of the event Compagna says bike rodeo events take place nationally, although it varies by detachment.

Fort St. John schools have held similar events, most notably at Anne Roberts Elementary School.  

“It has happened here in the past,” Compagna told Energeticcity.ca. “We are starting to try and get this underway this year with hopefully a yearly rodeo.”

“We are looking at focusing more on the younger kids [and] installing some good bike safety skills.”

Compagna says bike maintenance will be provided by the local business Gerick Cycle and Ski, and there will be instructions on how to ride safely in traffic and on roadways. 

Proper helmet use will also be covered. A road course will be set up at the recreation centre, where children can navigate around the course.

Upon completion, children will receive a certificate and a coupon for an ice cream cone or a slushy beverage. A hot dog lunch will be provided by the Fort Nelson Rotary Club, courtesy of Save-On-Foods and IGA Fort Nelson.

Each participating child will receive a ticket for an event-ending raffle to win prizes, including bicycles and helmets. 

In an information age, recreational bike riding among children seems to have taken a slight downturn.

Data from Statistics Canada said in a 2025 report that small population centres and rural communities have the lowest percentage of children who ride bicycles to school (4.9 per cent for cycling in small towns, 2.2 per cent for rural areas).

Compagna says it is still popular among children in Fort Nelson despite the data.

“There are a fair number of kids on the bicycles I have seen around,” Compagna said. “I noticed a number of kids not wearing helmets. We are trying to instill some good behaviours [in kids].”

While the event is centred on children from kindergarten through grade eight, Compagna said older children can participate as well, as the event is both drop-in and free.

The Fort Nelson Bike Rodeo, hosted by the Northern Rockies RCMP detachment and Northern Rockies Fire Rescue, happens on Saturday, June 27th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre at 5500 Alaska Highway in Fort Nelson.