Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo, 10 Years of Promoting Bike Safety and Honoring a Special Spirit

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo, a special event that honors Tanner’s memory and promotes bike safety in the Snoqualmie Valley.  This year’s event happens Saturday, June 7, 2014, from 11AM – 3PM, at Snoqualmie Community Park.

Tanner Jeans, Honoring the Memory of an Active, Special Boy 

When you live in a small town, certain things that happen are forever engrained in your memory. The tragic accident that took 7-year old Tanner TannerJeans is one of those incidents. On a sunny June day in 2004,  it shook the community. He was just riding a bike on a quiet street in front of his home. It was an accident that could have happened to any of our children.

Tanner Jeans is more than a foundation or event name.

Ten years ago, Snoqualmie Ridge was still small. It seemed like we all knew each other. So many of us had children Tanner’s age.  So many of us knew the Jeans.  So many of us never thought this could happen in our small city. But it did – and the ensuing outpouring of love and support for the Jeans family was a true act of community in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Largest Bike Safety Event for Kids

Tanner’s accident is something the Snoqualmie Police Department, city officials and longtime residents never want to see happen again. The bike rodeo, and the bike safety education it promotes, is a way to help make sure it doesn’t. As the family friendly Snoqualmie Valley continues to grow, and its school-aged population expands, the event becomes even more important.

The Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo is now the largest bike safety event in the Pacific Northwest, attracting nearly 1000 participants each year. As always, it’s open to the entire community; is the most attended “kid event” in the Snoqualmie Valley; and promotes Tanner’s motto: “Have Fun. Play Fair. Play Safe.”

The Snoqualmie Police Department sponsored event features:

  • Bike obstacle courses for safety training
  • Bike inspections by Single Track Cycles of North Bend
  • Bike helmet inspections
  • Fire safety house and fun exercise spraying water
  • Free T-shirts
  • Bouncy houses and face painters
  • Antique Car Show by Legends Classic Cars
  • Live music by Locomotive, Snoqualmie Valley Kid Rock band!
  • Performance by the Mount Si High School Cheer Squad
  • Free food, snacks, and beverages
bike safety fair
Snoqualmie Police officer leads kids through bike safety obstacle course in 2013.

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  • Thank you, Danna, for remembering our sweet Tanner and helping to keep his memory alive.

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