PIERCE, Neb. -- More than 60 kids participated in Pierce's recent safety day, designed to educate young bike and scooter riders on the rules of the road. To reinforce their understanding, the kids were given a test, with successful participants receiving a license.

"Teachers came down and quizzed the kids on safety," said Pierce Fire Fighter and Fire Prevention Educator Kelli Sindt. "If they were able to answer all the questions and understand what their role is as a biker or pedestrian, they got issued a license." This initiative aimed to ensure that children are aware of their responsibilities and the regulations they must follow while using bicycles and scooters.

Many children may be unaware of Pierce's specific ordinances for bikes and scooters. Pierce Police Officer Austin Rohrich emphasized the importance of these rules, stating, "When riding a bicycle or scooters, you need to be within a speed that's reasonable and come to a proper stop at all stop signs. They also need to have a front light and a tail light. So, essentially, they are the same as a car or SUV driving on the road. They have to abide by the same traffic laws."

To put these rules into practice, the children participated in several checkpoints designed to test their ability to follow instructions and maintain safety. These interactive stations provided hands-on experience and reinforced the lessons taught during the safety day.

"So we had the ambulance out here with a little obstacle course that the kids could kind of weave in and out of cones," Sindt explained. "We had somebody at the end of it with a stop sign to remind them, 'Stop, stop, sign is for you, too.'" Additionally, a grass fire truck was present, allowing children to sit in the driver's seat and walk behind the vehicle to understand the concept of blind spots.

Firefighter Kelli Sindt stressed that the event balanced fun with crucial safety education. "During fire prevention, I teach them it's my job as a firefighter to put the fire out," Sindt said. "It's their job to get out of that fire and to be safe to hopefully prevent fires. And it's kind of the same thing here. We just need everybody to work together to make the community a little safer for the kids."