BikeWalk BG Organizes Educational Programs at Local Elementary Schools
April 17, 2024 – In an effort to bridge the bicycle education gap, BikeWalk BG, in partnership with Warren County Parks and Recreation and the Warren County Health Department, is visiting local elementary schools in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The aim is to teach students about the importance of biking, exercising, and road safety.
Building a Cycle-Friendly Community
According to Karissa Lemon, the BikeWalk BG Coordinator, the initiative seeks to address the education gap that has been a barrier to building a more bicycle-friendly community. “One of the reasons that we wanted to start this is, we had this education gap [and] we weren’t really filling that piece”, Lemon stated.
The primary target of these educational programs are fourth-graders. Lemon believes that this is an ideal age for children to grasp the basics of biking. “We’re really just wanting to get kids active and on bikes and instill that sense of independence and freedom that bicycling can give them,” she added.
The Bike Rodeo
One of the major highlights of these programs is the bike rodeo organized by BikeWalk BG. In this event, a chalk path is drawn onto the pavement replicating real-life road obstacles like roundabouts, intersections, stop signs, and railroad tracks. Children who have signed waivers are allowed to ride through the course, while those without, can run through it.
These programs consist of different stations where children are taught bike safety, different hand signals for the road, and the importance of exercise. The latter is led by representatives from the health department.
Positive Responses
The feedback from families and students has been overwhelmingly positive. “They’re all really excited, and they love it, and they have a great time,” Lemon said. Despite the physical challenges, even children who are not participating on bikes enjoy running through the course.
Upcoming Events
BikeWalk BG and the health department are planning to run this program at different schools throughout the first week of May. They are also preparing for community outreach events, like the upcoming Earth Day Bike Ride in Bowling Green on April 20.
Readers seeking more information about these initiative can find more details on their Facebook page or can contact them directly via email at info@bikewalkbg.org
