Later this week, Tempe kindergarteners will receive a classroom-sized set of bikes that transition with them from learning how to balance, to adding pedals and pushing off.
It’s part of a national effort to make biking more accessible by bringing it into schools.
Nicole Buchholz with the nonprofit All Kids Bike said Rover Elementary is the latest addition to the more than 30 other participating schools throughout the state.
“We're always improving the bikes, making them easier to use in the classrooms,” said Buchholz. “Like now, they have airless tires so the teachers aren't spending, you know, half of the night filling up 48 tires for all of the bikes. But yeah, as long as the equipment is well taken care of, that could last for 10 years or more, we’re hoping.”
She says that despite the era of ‘iPad kids,’ many still know how to ride bikes. Still, it’s important to remember that “more often than not there's a bunch of kids that just don't know how to ride a bike, whether they're not given the opportunity because they don't live in a place that's conducive to learning to ride a bike — bigger cities, that kind of thing. There's just not really a place for it or the parents just don't have the funding or the availability.”
But Buchholz said that even if students don’t develop an interest in biking, they’ll gain a sense of confidence and accomplishment from participating. Riding a bike, she said, is a milestone every kid should have access to.
“It truly is their first vehicle. It's their first sense of freedom,” said Buchholz. “Without their parents, they can get themselves places that are further away from home than just walking in a shorter amount of time. And it's something that they can do with their friends and be healthy and active.”
Buchholz said they’re looking forward to further expanding the program with interested schools throughout the state.
