The Verona Police Department’s annual bike derby will not take place this year due to covid-19 concerns.

The event is usually held in June with about 200 or so folks gathering near the borough building along East Railroad Avenue.

It’s designed to teach kids about bicycle safety. Free helmets are distributed to the children and some bikes are raffled off.

Police Chief Ron McLemore said Thursday that having such a large group in the area during the pandemic could be unsafe, and the department erred on the side of caution for borough families by cancelling the derby.

Bike mechanics from Dirty Harry’s in Verona have done free safety inspections on all bikes at previous derbies.

“It’s certainly sad,” manager Jeff Kuchma said. “We love helping out every year. We’ve been helping out for a long time. It’s disappointing we won’t be able to help (this year). Given the circumstances we understand why they chose to cancel it.”

This month would have been its 21st installment.

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