These games are just a few great ideas that can occupy a neighborhood full of kids who have their own bicycles and a safe spot to ride, or to play at a party with bicycles.

The games require kids, bicycles, and a large driveway or empty parking lot. An adult (or more) or older child who can stand lookout for cars (and solve any disputes) is a necessary addition. Look for a safe spot and then gather a group of kids and a few other supplies to set up these different riding challenges. Prizes can be planned way ahead according to the age and number of the players.

Do not start until you complete the safety check:

• Each kid's bike is road-worthy (inspect tires, brakes, handles)
• Each kid's helmet should fit snugly, and come mid-way down the forehead. Check to be sure that the chin strap is tight enough and that it fastens properly, and that there are no cracks in the inner shell or outer helmet.
• Each kid wear proper clothes and has plenty of liquid to drink.
• Each kid knows how to proper Start and Stop
• Each kid knows the rules of riding the bike

Let’s the fun begin! The games has very simple rules, since the idea is to have fun and enjoy riding the bikes. Naturally, you should feel free to modify the rules, whatever you need to do to make it fit your particular situation. And, don’t forget to enjoy it yourself!

1. Bike Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course with whatever you have handy. Draw pathways using sidewalk chalk, turn on a sprinkler to ride through, set up cones to maneuver around, or create an arch out of pool noodles. Encourage kids to dismount their bikes in order to take a shot on the basketball net or crawl through a tunnel made out of cardboard boxes. Stand at the end of the obstacle course with a checkered flag, and signal each finisher.

2. Bike Safari
The book "365 Smart After-School Activities" recommends handing children cameras and heading out on a neighborhood bicycle safari. Divide players into teams of two or three. Give each a clue list of items and locations that must be photographed within a given time frame. Upload the photos onto your computer, judge them for accuracy and award prizes. To make it fair, try to give every player a prize. Different categories can include: blurriest picture, most artistic or funniest.

3. Slow as a Turtle
With chalk, mark out a course with three-foot wide lanes that is fifty feet long. Create one lane for each participant. If there isn’t enough space, for many lanes, have two players race against one another and then the winners can race against other race winners. The challenge here is for riders to pedal as slowly as possible while keeping their feet on the pedals at all times. The last one to cross the finish line wins. Again, prepare the turtle prizes (including juices, sweets, energy bars, small toys, diplomas).

Credits:
kidsactivitiesblog.com
www.livestrong.com
www.cyclesofchange.org
Some games are from Boredom Busters! by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell.