Youth ages 5 through 13 joined the City of Industry Sheriff’s Youth Activities League to learn about bicycle riding safety skills ahead of USA BMX SoCal Nationals taking place this weekend. As organizers set up the national track inside the Industry Hills Expo Center, the parking lot was outfitted with six interactive stations for participants to visit to master the dirt.
City Councilmember Newell Ruggles initiated much of the city’s partnership with USA BMX, securing a contract to host nationals for this year and the next. As a member who has been racing for two years, he said he is a proponent of the sport because of the improvements to his physical health and the inclusive community.
“‘I’ve gained a lot of friends,” Ruggles said. “BMX is definitely a family sport — anybody can do it. There’s moms, there’s dads and grandpas even race.”
Ruggles said he hopes to heighten interest in the sport before upcoming 2028 Olympics is hosted in Los Angeles. Participants and their families who hope to keep riding entered a raffle for the chance to win one of 12 bikes donated by United Wheels – Huffy.
A great session can end over the handlebars if precautions aren’t heeded, so the event’s station aimed to make sure kids were equipped to not just race a track but also traverse busy neighborhoods. Activities included proper safety gear instruction, mechanical safety, traffic safety, overall control and balance skill share and hazard avoidance lessons at both low speeds and high speeds.
Since 1991, the Sherriff’s Youth Activities League has provided sport activities and education at no charge for at risk, low income youth in the community. According to census data, 8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Industry live below the poverty line — about 20 out of 244 people. The nonprofit invites kids to various programming including boxing, martial arts, a high adventure summer camp and even a scuba adventure.
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