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Spring 2023 – Safe Routes to School Review

by | May 31, 2023 | More Bikes, Programs, Safe Routes to School, Safe Streets

Skillfully navigating a Safe Routes Bike Rodeo Course

As we reported back in March, after what seemed like an especially long, cold winter we were excited to have our  Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program back in high gear serving the students of PSD (per our school rotation schedule) with a full menu of bicycle education programs, including:

  • K – 5 Safety Education and Rodeo Days
  • Elementary School Off-Campus Field Trips
  • Middle & High School Skill Improvement Days
  • Middle & High School Rules of the Road Rides
  • 11th & 12th Grade Bicycle Friendly Driver Education

Here are the results of the spring SRTS program, by the numbers:

  • 1,996 – Students Educated
  • 1,319 – Bicycle Safety Checks
  • 185 – Safe Routes Bikes Used by Students
  • 863 – Instructor Teaching and Mechanic (Bike-Check) Hours

“Discovering balance on two wheels!!”

A few high points of our spring included:

  • Riding with all of the 4th & 5th Grade classes of Olander Elementary School on a field trip down the Spring Creek Trail to Rolland Moore Park.
  • Riding with all of the 4th & 5th Grade classes of Shepardson Elementary School on a field trip to the Environmental Learning Center using the Powerline and Poudre River Trails.
  • Taking Webber Middle School 6th Grade classes off campus and riding the Cathy Fromme Trail.

Perhaps the most rewarding moments this past spring were seeing students of all ages learning to ride for the very first time. At every school and event we allocate additional instructors to specifically work with students who are just learning to ride.

  • Several students in various middle schools, who had never ridden before, were able to move from Striders (bikes with no pedals) to pedal bikes. After several practice sessions on bikes with pedals, they were able to ride around the neighboring streets with our instructors. What a way to begin a summer…knowing how to ride a bike!
  • Scores of elementary school students discovered how to balance on two wheels and learned to ride. One kindergartener in particular moved from a Strider to a pedal bike (with front & rear hand brakes) and was completely comfortable navigating our rodeo courses with kids who had been riding for years.

“Safe Routes Instructor Kate Polk fitting a helmet on a Kindergartener”

While the school year is now done, we have more programs and events scheduled this summer. Those include:

  • Summer Bike Camps
  • A CSU University Village Bike Rodeo
  • Early Childhood Bike Education at Putnam Elementary School (yes, Pre-Schoolers on bikes!)

Safe Routes to School had a terrific spring and we’re looking forward to lots of fun summer riding. We’re also already planning and scheduling schools for Fall 2023! If you would like to become a Safe Routes to School instructor or volunteer, click this Link to learn more about our program.

See you out on the trails and roads this summer.