'Bet You Wish You Had My Bike!' at Napa Bike Fest (PHOTOS)

Napa kids, adults and families alike found ways to enjoy themselves on and off bicycles at Saturday's Napa Bike Fest.

"We're growing and building," said organizer Mark Lucas of the 2nd annual event at Oxbow Public Market parking lot.

Lucas said the goal was to evolve the local culture toward supporting a more bicycle-friendly lifestyle.

"Biking improves health through exercise and reduces the carbon footprint," Lucas said. "Most car trips are under three miles -- all of those trips can be made with bikes."

Napa Police Officer Ken Chapman said the popular "bike rodeo" course offered at Napa Bike Fest was a way to teach kids bike safety and build confidence and self-reliance. The course mimics a typical road, with stop signs, a railroad crossing and yield signs.

"Kids love it," he said. Chapman, a Napa school resource officer for seven and a half years, said he has brought larger bike rodeos to all the Napa area elementary schools.

"We have 100 kids an hour go through it," he said of the school bike rodeos. "We're lucky that we have a community that embraces bike safety."

bike club member Juliette Humer said the club runs rides three times a week.

"We're a junior section of the " she said. "They gave us a 50-50 match to get bikes."

The club, which ran a bake sale booth at Saturday's Napa Bike Fest, has about 15 members, she said.

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