Bike rodeo, conservation event coming downtown Saturday

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GREENFIELD — Organizers of two free events this weekend want guests to get ‘cycling.

Bicycling and recycling, that is.

The “Get Cycling!” festivities offer a bike rodeo and a Going Green event in downtown Greenfield this Saturday.

Both are the results of Leadership Hancock County small-group community projects.

Bike rodeo attendees are encouraged to bring their bicycles for skills classes, safety checks and an obstacle course.

Debra Cochran, a 2019 Leadership Hancock County graduate, was on the team that organized the bike rodeo.

“We definitely want this to be a family-friendly event,” she said. “We encourage all ages to come out and have their parents ride their bikes too with the kiddos.”

The leader of the Greenfield Police Department’s bike patrol, Steve McCarley, will show attendees rules of the road like how to stop and start and use hand signals while also increasing attendees’ overall awareness of how to ride safely, Cochran said.

A representative of a local bicycle shop will be checking bikes and making sure helmets are properly fitted.

The Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department submitted the project to Leadership Hancock County last summer. Bike rodeo organizers hope their work encourages the department to take over the event and bring it back for years to come, Cochran said.

She added both the bike rodeo and Going Green teams’ projects shared a similar spirit, so members thought it would be best to work together and hold both events simultaneously in the same place.

Going Green, which was the brainchild of 2018 Leadership Hancock County graduate Courtney Miller, will feature conservation activities, arts and crafts and educational demonstrations.

Allyson Smith, a 2019 Leadership Hancock County graduate whose small group organized the event, said the family-friendly day will offer crafts for kids such as planting starter gardens in dirt-filled egg cartons.

The local Purdue Extension will address composting in one of the event’s educational demonstrations, Smith said. CGS Services will be in attendance to sign people up for recycling services. At the Hancock County Solid Waste Management District booth, visitors will be able to learn about small changes they can make to live more environmentally friendly.

Smith said she was personally driven to pursue the project because of her young children. Youth often get excited about protecting the Earth, and it’s important to instill in them easy ways they can make good choices to do just that, she continued.

With the help of the solid waste management district, the Going Green team hopes to see its event return in the future, just like the bike rodeo.

“Both of our leadership teams want to help however we can moving forward,” Smith said.

The National Weather Service predicts a day of sunshine and highs in the lower 80s for the events.

“The forecast is looking really great, so we’re excited,” Smith said.

The events will also feature a bounce house, face painting, giveaways, live music from Gus Moon and food from Tyner Pond Farm and BBQ’N Fools.

More details are available at getcyclinggreenfield.com. A waiver for participating in the bike rodeo is also available on the website. Waivers will be available at the event as well.

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WHAT: Get ‘Cycling!

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Greenfield Courthouse Plaza and Annex parking lot

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