Recreation

Students at Payette Lakes Middle School dropped melons with a bike helmet strapped to it from 10 feet off the ground—the result was far different from the melon without a helmet, when its contents smashed across the gym floor.The experiment was part of a safety program sponsored by the City of McCall during the annual “Bike to School” event to advise teenagers aware of the increased danger of e-bikes on city pathways.This year, the program focused on e-bikes, which are battery powered bicycles, following dozens of complaints made to the city of people riding too fast on crowded city pathways.“We’ve heard the community’s concerns and are committed to addressing them,” said Stefanie Bork, the City of McCall Parks & Recreation Business Manager.“By educating youth on safe biking practices, we hope to foster a culture of safety and responsibility in McCall,” Bork said.The city is working to draft an e-bike specific policy.Lessons were presented during gym class at PLMS.“I think it’s important for our middle school kids, because they don’t have licenses, they don’t really know the law, but they do have e-bikes,” said PLMS gym teacher Cheyenne Pietri.“It helps educate them on some of the etiquette and risks of riding bikes on the sidewalks,” Pietri said.