New Elementary Bicycle Safety Program Gets Wheels

Delivery of 30 New Bicycles Funded by SpokeFest Grant

8/30/2012

An excited group of Broadway Elementary students will be on hand today (August 30) to test ride 30 new bicycles being delivered to their Central Valley school. The 10:30 a.m. delivery on the school’s playground (11016 E. Broadway) is made possible by a $6,100 grant from the SpokeFest Association.

Nearly 2,000 children attending 13 Central Valley elementary schools will learn the basics of bicycle safety this year, thanks to the SpokeFest grant, which funded the bicycles, being assembled and delivered by the Bike Hub. SpokeFest also provided 30 bicycle helmets needed for the new district-wide Elementary Bicycle Safety Program.

“SpokeFest is proud to be able to support programs that promote safe bicycling habits for children as well as emphasizing the pure fun of riding a bike,” said Kathy Chase of SpokeFest.

Three years ago, teacher Katie Ferris piloted a bicycle safety program for her health and fitness students at Broadway Elementary. Partnering with the Spokane Bicycle Alliance, students learned about bicycle safety using equipment shared with other school districts. Now, thanks to the SpokeFest grant secured by Ferris, the new Central Valley Elementary Bicycle Safety Program will be launched. The equipment will rotate among the district’s 12 elementary schools and Summit School where fourth and fifth grade students will learn the skills of safe and smart bike riding. Students will learn how to safely navigate their bikes when riding on streets, how to ride on the correct side of the street and make hand signals while riding. Bicycle safety is taught in the elementary health and fitness classes in the fall and spring. 

The fifth annual SpokeFest ride is September 9, 2012, in downtown Spokane. Visit www.spokesfest.org.

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