The Youth Bike Education program trains kids to safely ride bikes. The benefits last now and throughout their lives. Training kids to ride safely contributes to both their physical and mental well-being, aids concentration even hours after a ride, and builds skills and healthy habits that will serve them into adulthood.
Support for this program will allow us to continue offering bike safety education for years to come and realize our long-term vision of expanding bike safety education program offerings to every elementary school in Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix — going from roughly 200 children served to 700 children served.
Partners
The Youth Bike Education Program is a partnership between the Ashland Climate Collaborative, Streets for Everyone, Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission (APRC), and Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD), with additional support from Ashland School District.
Program Goals
- Increase students’ physical fitness.
- Increase students’ bicycle skills and safety.
- Boost the number of students who ride to school. This will decrease emissions as well as congestion.
- Boost students’ confidence, independence, and connection to their community.
Program Format
At the end of each safety program, students in need can take home a refurbished bike, courtesy of the Pedal Power Community Bike Shop
Eight hours of instruction for all 4th and 5th graders at Bellview and Helman elementary schools, covering introductions to traffic safety, rules to know, decision making, bike and pedestrian dress, parking lot safety, safe crossing practice, helmet and bike fitting and safety checks, and practice navigating and riding city streets.
The Ashland Climate Collaborative Streets for Everyone Action Team is working to make our streets safe for people of all ages and abilities – especially kids! To stay up to date, or get involved, sign up for our newsletter.