Charlotte, NC-- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department invites youngsters to a Bike Rodeo Thursday, May 1, 2008, 4:30pm-7pm at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, 750 Beal Street.  This is a great opportunity for kids to learn about bike safety and to practice their biking skills. This event is FREE.

Boys and girls, ages 8-12, can participate in the bike rodeo. Children, age 8 and younger, can play safety games to win prizes. Children, 5-12, are invited to bring their bikes and learn how to make minor repairs and to bring their bike helmets and get them inspected and adjusted free-of-charge. All children are invited to stop by vendor tables to register for drawings and meet area mascots Kozmo, Homer, and RAY.

This event is sponsored by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Safe Kids Charlotte-Mecklenburg, K104.7, Levine Children's Hospital, the Charlotte Knights, Trips for Kids and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. These groups urge youngsters to celebrate Safe Kids and Bike week, which aims to make sure area children are properly geared and prepared for a safe summer on wheels!

For more information call 311 or contact Janice Williams at 704 355-9236 or Janice.williams@carolinashealthcare.org  or Carla Hoover at 704 365-1265 or Carla.hoover@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov .