The Blaine Police Department kicked off the biking season on Monday by hosting the first bike rodeo of the year, a community event dedicated to bike safety and in remembrance of a local teen tragically lost to a biking accident. Ian, the 17-year-old whose life was cut short after being struck by a car five years ago, was honored at the gathering which also marked what would have been his 22nd birthday.

In an initiative to teach bike safety, the event, spearheaded by Blaine Police's bike patrol officers, featured a skills course for young cyclists, a tour around the neighborhood, and participants benefited from safety demonstrations—the gathering managed to avoid interference from weather, with rain holding off for the duration. The department's efforts were supported by Ian's grandmother and Blaine United Methodist Church, which helped in coordinating and hosting the event.

Shedding light on the purpose behind the rodeo, a Facebook post from the Blaine Police Department highlighted the collaboration, "Thanks to his grandmother and @blaineunitedmethodistchurch for helping coordinate and host this great event to help keep kids safe while riding their bikes."

The event not only serves as a reminder of the perils that bikers, particularly the younger ones, may face while navigating through streets but also as a community's response to such tragedies, transforming grief into a proactive stand to bolster safety and awareness among bike enthusiasts. The message is clear: the spirit of Ian lives on in these safety initiatives, with the hope that such events will instill a culture of vigilance and care on the roads, making the streets a safer place for our children our priority.