Basics of Bicycling Program a Success at Schools!

Basics of Bicycling Program a success at schools! Edmonds School District News – 2012 

The Basics of Bicycling Program has reached third, fourth, and fifth graders at nine district schools thanks to funding from multiple community organizations. The three-week unit on safe bicycling is taught during physical education classes, with members of the Cascade Bicycle Club maintaining the bicycles and transporting them from school to school. The Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group, the Hazel Miller Foundation, Bikes for Snohomish County, and the Cascade Bicycle Club fund the program.

Elementary schools participating the current and last school year are: Mountlake Terrace, Maplewood, Meadowdale, Lynndale, Spruce, Terrace Park, Madrona, and Lynnwood. Here are some testimonials from several third graders at Lynnwood Elementary:

“ When I got on the unfamiliar bike, at first I was a little scared; then happy, blood flowing in my body as I started to pedal, even a bit of wind went through my hair. The helmet felt like nothing. Biking in the gym was fun.”

“At first, I was nervous, because I’d never been on a bicycle before, my hands on the handlebars felt kind of slippery, I think my hands were wet. I’m safe because I had a helmet on. Once I got the hang of it, I started to ride it with my feet on the pedals.”

Our thanks to the groups who made this experience possible!