Lubbock Kids Gear Up For Second Annual Tricycle Derby At Safety City

Forget NASCAR. Forget Formula 1.

This weekend in Lubbock, the racing world belongs to a bunch of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds on tricycles!

And frankly, that sounds considerably more entertaining.

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The City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation Department and Lubbock ISD are teaming up for the second annual Tricycle Derby at Safety City, giving some of Lubbock's youngest residents a chance to race while learning a few important lessons about safety.

Two children wearing helmets ride tricycles on a paved course

The Tricycle Derby Returns to Safety City

The fun gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 19, at Safety City, 4500 Avenue U.

The derby is open exclusively to children ages 3 through 5, with races divided into age groups.

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The tentative schedule has the 3-year-olds racing at 9:15 a.m., 4-year-olds at 10 a.m. and 5-year-olds at 11 a.m.

Those times are subject to change, so families are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes before their child's race.

Personally, I'd arrive a little earlier. Anybody who's ever tried getting a 3-year-old anywhere on a schedule knows there's a fairly significant margin of error involved.

You Don't Even Need to Own a Tricycle

Here's another nice part of the event: you don't have to go buy a racing machine and start looking for tiny corporate sponsors.

Tricycles will be provided for children who need them, although families are welcome to bring their own.

The event is open to the public, but registration is required. Advance registration is encouraged, although walk-in racers will be accepted if space is still available.

Families can register for the Lubbock Tricycle Derby here.

It's About More Than Racing

As funny as a bunch of preschoolers furiously pedaling tricycles around Safety City sounds, there's actually a purpose behind all of this.

The event is designed to give children a fun way to learn about safety while interacting and competing with other kids their age.

Safety City has always been one of those uniquely Lubbock places where children can begin learning about traffic and pedestrian safety in an environment designed specifically for them. The Tricycle Derby turns those lessons into something that feels a whole lot more like play.

And at that age, that's usually the best way to learn anything.

Young girl in helmet rides tricycle on a mini road

The Most Adorable Race in Lubbock?

There will presumably be no million-dollar purse, no champagne sprayed from the winner's podium and absolutely no need for a pit crew.

But I wouldn't underestimate the competition.

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Give a 5-year-old a tricycle and tell them another kid might beat them, and things can get serious pretty quickly.