Something new and different for parents and kids who like to go on bike rides is coming to the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township next month.

Hellertown Mayor David Heintzelman said Monday that he and his family are helping to organize a kid-friendly bike ride on the rail trail with Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township police.

The Bike Ride With The Police–which both borough council and township council approved this week–will be held rain or shine on Tuesday, July 17 at 6 p.m. Registration will be at 5:30 p.m.

It will begin and end at Water Street Park in Hellertown, with the Reading Drive trailhead off Bingen Road in Lower Saucon Township as the midpoint.

“We’re just trying to engage the youth” and show them that police are “real people” and approachable, Heintzelman said. “It’s all to bring the community together.”

Another goal is to help promote bicycle safety.

As a special treat for participants, there will be free ice cream courtesy of the Heintzelman family after the ride at the picnic pavilion in the park.

The ride is for children 12 years and older unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. All children will be required to wear bicycle helmets.

Since the trail is flat and the route isn’t too long, Police Chief Robert Shupp said younger children will be able to participate.

Heintzelman stressed that this is not a race, and said he will also participate.

Posters advertising the ride will be hung up in the borough and the township, as well as along the trail.

There is also a Facebook event for the bike ride.