Bike & Pedestrian Safety Education Program for Middle Schoolers

Learning how to ride a bike and walk around the neighborhood can be the first exposure someone has to road traffic. Cascade Bicycle Club wants to make sure all youth in Washington state can be safe on the road while they gain the freedom and independence that comes with a bike. The Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program teaches upper elementary and middle school students how to ride, the rules of the road and how to stay safe. Think of it as driver’s education for bicycling and walking.

The program is supported by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation, and managed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The current grant cycle (2015-2017) funds 17 districts across the state to provide bicycle and pedestrian safety education to students in grades 5-8, including a fleet of bikes, trailer, and program supplies.

To view the curriculum and teaching materials, visit the State Center for Safe Routes to School.

Mini-grants

Mini-grants are also available to support efforts to increase walking and biking to schools around the state. Up to 25 school districts in Washington can be awarded in the current funding cycle (2015-17) with grants ranging from $500 to $1500.

Eligibility: Public schools, grades 5th-8th, in Washington State are eligible for funding, however only one award will be made per school district. Single schools can apply or a district can apply if it is confident that it can serve more than one school and fulfill the program requirements. Highest priority will be given to eligible schools who have not already received Safe Routes to School funding. Projects that will be considered for funding include: walking school buses, bike trains, walk and bike to school encouragement programs, safety patrol.

Get more details about the grant requirements.

Program results

As of fall 2014, ~56,000 middle-school students have gone through our program. Another 15,000-16,000 learn from it each year. By 2017 we will have reached over 100,000!

The program has provided bicycle and pedestrian safety education to students in 6th through 8th grade in 58 school districts across the state. We have reached over 175 teachers who intend to educate over 15,000 students annually. Recent reports show that students who went through the program were biking and walking more safely, with large improvements in obeying traffic rules, using hand signals, and wearing helmets. The percent of students who rode to or from school also increased from 2.6 percent to 3.6 percent in 2013. For more results, read the final report:

Bring bike safety education to your district

Do you want your school district to teach bike and pedestrian safety skills to the students? We provide training and support to districts so they can teach the curriculum in physical education classes at elementary and middle school. The curriculum teaches important life skills while helping students meet state standards.

Let us know if you want this program brought to your school district.