Kate Sessions Elementary School
Bike Rodeo – 2019
Walk, Bike, and Roll in Pacific Beach
during National Bike Month
by Dave Schwab May 12, 2019 sdnews.com
It was a field day on May 8 for cycling advocates in Pacific Beach and region-wide with everyone getting into the act, even kids, who biked to school in a promotion dubbed Walk, Bike, and Roll. The special day in May was part of National Bike Month, which includes National Bike Day, celebrated nationwide on May 17, and on May 16 in San Diego.
“It’s like the holiday season for us,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. “National Bike Month grew from Bike To Work Day and Bike to School Day came as part of bike month. It’s just an organic way for a lot of different organizations concerned with bicycle safety and advocacy that ties everything together.”
Katie Matchett of PB participated in the May 8 Walk, Bike, and Roll, sponsored for the second year by beautifulPB, a volunteer public nonprofit promoting environmental and economic sustainability. “We had everybody not only bicycling but walking to school, anything besides being driven,” said Matchett. “The idea was to get kids, as well as parents, teachers and staff, excited about alternative travel modes such as bicycling, walking and scootering.”
Community volunteers handed out prizes and snacks the morning of May 8 as kids arrived at school, said Matchett, noting, “Later that day some of the schools held special events (bike rodeos at Sessions, a walk safety assembly at St. Paul’s). Barnard also held a bike safety assembly on May 10 with the SD Bike Coalition.”
Hanshaw said bike to school and bike to work days deliver a “bigger message about promoting active living and safe commuting.” He added promoting active movement while implementing safe streets and infrastructure “encourages more kids to ride bikes to school. It’s about our climate, our future. It’s the quality of life.”
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Sessions Elementary School
Bike Rodeo – 2018
A big group of students from Kate Sessions Elementary were taught bike riding skills, road safety skills and bike maintenance skills at their bike rodeo on May 9th, 2018. With giveaways like helmets, lights, water bottles and snacks, these young student commuters have an enhanced appreciation and skill set for independent, healthy, active transportation. Strong bodies lead to strong minds. Educated bicyclist are safe cyclist.
Ocean Beach Elementary School
Bike Rodeo – 2014
Once a year Ocean Beach Elementary School hosts an after school Bicycle Rodeo for the students. For a second year Nicole Burgess received help from fellow BikeSD.org members Kate and Taylor of Hub+Spoke CycleWorks. Together with assistance from parents and other BikeSD.org members, the young bicyclist were taught bike riding skills, bicycle safety and bike maintenance skills.
The young students had a good time learning important life skills outside the classroom. Lot’s of physical activity coupled with mindful learning of safety and bike maintenance made for a great educational experience.
A Bicycle Rodeo is a bicycle skills event, taught on a school playground or parking lot, which provides an opportunity for kids and teens to practice and develop skills that will help them become better bicyclist and avoid typical problems. Its objective is to teach children and teens the importance of seeing, being seen and remaining in control at all times while riding a bicycle. This is achieved through a series of bicycle handling drills and simulation of traffic situations. Bicycle skills stations give students the opportunity to practice a variety of specific bike handling skills and procedures for operating a bike legally and safely on the street.
If you would like to schedule a Bike Rodeo for your school, scout group, community group or other, contact LCI Instructor Nicole Burgess.
Nicole Burgess ~ League Cycling Instructor
Nicole23ob@gmail.com
League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) are certified to teach the Smart Cycling classes to children as well as adults. Their goal is to help people feel more secure about getting on a bike, to create a mindset that bikes are treated as a vehicle, and to ensure that people on bikes know how to ride safely and legally. LCIs are members of the League and have completed an intense 3-day seminar training. Our certified instructors are active within the bicycling community and are covered by the League’s liability insurance.