PHOTOS: Bike Races, Obstacle Course Gets Riders Ready for Summer at Buker

Students at Buker Elementary School are all ready to safely bike this summer vacation after Bike Day at the school on Wednesday.

All of the classes at the school took part in a Bike Safety Assembly on Wednesday morning followed by an afternoon of bike races and obstacle courses.

The daylong event is part of an annual bike safety awareness program sponsored by the Friends of Buker.

Wenham Police Officer William Foley and Heather Ross from the MassDOT Safe Routes to School program both gave students reminders about how to keep safe while riding a bike.

Foley talked about dangers such motorists exiting driveways and how to use traffic lights to cross the street. Ross said anyone under 17 must wear a helmet every time they ride a bike because “that is the law in Massachusetts.”

After school, Bike Day moved outside to practice safe riding skills.  Pinnacle Bike Works of Beverly transformed fields into a bike racing track with all new equipment. Safety demonstrations and information was available along the School Street driveway.

Parent Melanie D’Orio, who organized the event, said that it was a “tremendous success” even though the sky remained despite cloudy for the afternoon.

“Today was a testament to our greater community … almost 100 student participants came out to support some good old-fashioned fun,” she said. “Parent volunteers and Pinnacle Bike Works guaranteed safety and success, while the smiling faces and competitive spirit of all racers added to the excitement.”