Bike Utah helps celebrate Children's Day at the Leonardo
Children’s Day or Día Del Niño is a national holiday and huge celebration in Mexico. Children are made to feel special at this annual event, with fun activities planned by teachers, parents, and the community. The Mexican Consulate and Artes de México en Utah were co-organizers for a celebration at the Leonardo museum in downtown Salt Lake City. There was music, a chance to paint alebrijes, and good fun overall for the 200 registered guests. Bike Utah set up an area for children to tap into their creative side and decorate bicycles!
Bike Utah provided three of our “retired” bikes from our mobile fleet used to teach cycling safety to youth around the state. Local arts and crafts stores, Clever Octopus and Blick Art Materials, generously provided support via their grant programs so supplies could be purchased. We were excited to see what the children would design and use with paint, pens, ribbons, fabric, and other items available for use. The children came in waves and were excited to get dirty, literally, with paint overwhelmingly being the most popular way to decorate the bikes.
Bike Utah loved being involved in an event that highlights the joy and importance of our younger generation, and also serves as an opportunity to discuss ways to protect and prolong their health. Coincidentally the first week of May followed Children’s Day, which happened to be both the start of National Bike Month and the Mexican Consulate’s Physical Activity and Sports Promotion week. Greg Sanchez (Bike Utah Board Member) and Vince Lok (Level Pedals Program Director) joined María Ruiz (Community Affairs, Mexican Consulate) in a Facebook Live to share the importance of cycling and health, resources for newer riders, and how Bike Utah programs play a supportive role. The U.S Census Bureau indicates that 14.4% of Utah residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, which is the largest minority group in the state. We look forward to better understanding how to support cycling ridership as a form of transportation and exercise among this population through our efforts within the Level Pedals program.
As the last of the paint dried up on the bikes and the streamers came down from our tent, the children had beautifully expressed themselves in different ways. One bike adorned with an arrangement of flowers traveled back with the Wasatch Latino Coalition to be displayed at the local school, another bike showered in multiple, bright colors remained at the Leonardo, and the final bike will continue to be worked on by a local piñatera – we can’t wait to see what Clara will do!
