Summer officially arrived on June 20. That means fun in the sun, romps in the park, lots of fun activities in Manteno and safety issues for the kids.
The latest new game on TikTok is “Bike Out,” where kids engage in dangerous behavior, taking to the streets with scooters and bicycles and playing dare with cars. More than a few people have expressed concern for the kids and drivers, as well. No one wants to be responsible for a child’s death, much less having to fear for their own safety. Many have had to reduce their speed, as these kids take to the pavement, ignoring sidewalks and riding with the wind in the roads. A handful of kids would shout profanities, use slurs, and hand gestures to facilitate drivers to become angry.
This was addressed at the past village board meeting in which Police Chief Alan Swinford, along with the board have tried to come up with a solution. Kids have been riding in dangerous mode, into the streets and oncoming traffic. Village Board Trustee Mike Barry addressed the concern citing a recent experience he had with this particular issue. Barry mentioned rumors and things going around on Facebook about how the police were tackling kids down to the ground and other allegations. His own confrontation involved two kids riding on Division Street that almost hit himself, his wife and 11-year-old son. His experience led to a personal approach to trying to instill the danger of their actions; yet they responded with disrespect and left in a hurry in the direction of I-57.
He commented to the board that “At the end of the day the use of common sense should be involved. There was questioning about having the parents being involved as well, which wasn’t a solution to this behavior if they were not aware or more importantly believed that it’s just “kids being kids.”
The reckless behavior was addressed about why kids were driving on the streets, on scooters and being out past curfew. “I mean why is a 13-year-old kid out at 11:30 at night? That falls back on the parents, and we could sit here and beat ourselves to death,” Barry said.
Taking this matter seriously, Police Chief Alan Swinford and Mayor LaMore, along with other board members came up with the idea of having a bike/scooter rodeo. They’re hoping to instill the importance that dangerous actions that could lead to things as tragic as their own deaths, if hit by a vehicle on the road.
Barry tried to come up with solutions. Would it be possible to use the Legacy Park parking lot for kids to do their wheelies and other activities in the park’s south parking lot? What other options were available?
The Bicycle and E–Scooter Rodeo is set for Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m., for the kids to get to experience both educational and safe activities. The event will be held at 110 Marquette Place South in Manteno. It will consist of lots of fun things for kids and parents alike. Of course, in the event Mother Nature isn’t in the mood, there may be a rescheduling date.
Participants will learn about the bicycle rules of the road, as well as safety considerations for bikes, e-bikes, and scooters. They also will get the chance to navigate a skills course. Free food and drinks will be provided, along with chances to win great prizes
The event is free to children of all ages, with a Manteno mailing address. Helmets and parent/ guardian attendance is encouraged but not required. Registration is not a factor either.
This is another way in which the village and police try to tackle tough situations. May the wind be at your back and your safety be the priority. The event will be a reminder that fun can be had by all, yet safety is the most important.