WEST SPRINGFIELD – On June 1, more than 50 West Springfield children donned their helmets to take part in the annual Michael Vezzola Bicycle Rodeo and Family Safety Day.

The event is put on by the West Springfield Police Department and is named in memory of the late Officer Michael Vezzola, who died in 2009. Vezzola was often involved with bicycle programs for kids.

“It was kind of his thing,” said Carly Camossi, the West Springfield Outreach coordinator.

The bicycle rodeo consists of an obstacle course that police officers guide kids through. Most of the children who completed the obstacle course did so on bicycles, though there were some on scooters, Camossi said. The police also teach the children the biking rules of the road.

The three-hour event was staffed by people from the police and fire departments, and staff from the mayor’s office.

A total of 53 bicycles were donated and collected by Bob “The Bike Man” Charland from Pedal Thru Youth, a non-profit that provides repaired or rebuilt bikes to families that may not be able to afford them.

Several local businesses and non-profits sponsored the event. Big Y made a donation for water, the West Springfield Lions Club fed the crowd with hot dogs, the Kiwanis Club of West Springfield/Agawam provided helmets for those without one and conducted helmet fittings for all riders, and the Colorado Ski and Bike Shop performed bike check-ups and offered bike care advice.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following rules of the road for bicycle safety:

• Go with the traffic flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles.

• Obey all traffic laws. Obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

• Yield to traffic when appropriate. Yield to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

• Be predictable. Ride in a straight line. Signal your moves to others.

• Stay alert at all times. Use your eyes AND ears.

• When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

• Watch for parked cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

• The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction. Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.

• Check the law in your state or jurisdiction to make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.

• Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.

• Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.

• Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.