Additional Resources
The Let's Go Bicycle Education Program is part of a larger project to inspire and prepare the next generation of Washingtonians who see bicycling as their primary means of transportation. We hope this program can be a catalyst for community events, inclusive practices, and long-term behavioral change through the joys of riding outside.
The resources below can help teachers expand the impacts of the program beyond the gymnasium walls. If you have additional resources, please share them with us.
Adaptive Trike Resources
With great appreciation for our partners at Outdoors for All, we're excited to share a few additional resources to support working with students with disabilities.
Let's Go Adaptive Equipment Guides: Seattle/Edmonds and Statewide
Outdoors for All has a great website of resources, including a list of adaptive recreation programs, disability organizations, and equipment vendors.
Bike On, an organization dedicated to “educating, empowering, and enabling individuals of all abilities to sustain a healthy, safe, and active lifestyle” has a great blog about adaptive cycling.
Freedom Concepts, a manufacturer of adaptive recreational equipment, has a number of videos about youth adaptive bicycling.
Rifton, a manufacturer of adaptive equipment, has a webinar video about using adaptive tricycles as an effective intervention for individuals with disabilities and a blog about using adaptive tricycles in schools.
Outdoor Programming
When the weather and facility permits, bringing this program outside can greatly enhance the experience for both teachers and students. Consider the following best practices and reflections questions for outdoor programming:
Safety of space
Is the course removed from active traffic? If not, can you set up cones and/or warning signs to inform drivers about the class?
Are there any obstacles that could cause injury (curbs, wet spots, blind corners, students at recess)? Remove as many of these as possible.
Adult supervision
Do you have enough adults to keep eyes on all students? How can you recruit additional adults? Where can you stand to ensure vision of the entire course? Alter the course to ensure you can see all students at all times.
All outside or a combination of in/out
Does your gym have direct access to the outside playground? If so, consider creating a course that uses both areas (if you have enough supervision). This can dramatically extend the boundaries of the course and gives students additional space to ride and practice.
Prepare students ahead
Remind students about the safety and learning goals of the program. This is a chance to learn and practice, not ride fast with friends.
Set up intersections and activties to slow students down
Consider adding a stop sign intersection for students to practice stopping, signaling, and following right-of-way.
Consider adding additional challenges for Experienced students, including a "rock dodge," slalom between cones, or a narrow ride between two ropes. This can help to slow down those faster riders.
Community Events
May is Bike to School Month
Check out Cascade's website for details on how you can get involved.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Resources
Tacoma SRTS Program Toolkit: Includes details and helpful guides for building out additional programs at your school, including bike clubs, bike buses, bike rodeos, walk & roll to school days, etc.
Bike Train Planning Guide: Supports for setting up a bike train for your school community.
Walk, Bike, and Roll to School
Walking School Bus: Tips for setting up a walking school bus in your community.
Classroom Management
Setting up clear expectations and redirecting students towards positive behavior are key parts of a successful program. If you're struggling with classroom management, consider the following interventions:
Reduce the number of bikes on the course
Pair students up so there are two individuals per one bike. Have one student observe the rider for safe behavior and skill development, offer feedback, then switch. This will ensure only have the students are on a bike at one time.
Delegate some students to be pedestrians along the course. Then have them switch with a biker.
Add extra challenges for experienced riders
Include a rock dodge, narrow path between ropes, ball pick-up and throw into a bucket, or snail race to give more advanced riders additional skills to practice. It is actually much easier to ride faster than slower, so encourage those advanced students to practice riding slowly.
Consider classroom set up
How you set up your course and gymnasium can be effective nudges to encourage positive student behavior. This includes a clear course with lots of arrows, color-coded cones to break up groups, minimal unnecessary equipment around the gym, and clear start/end points.
Safety is always first
Remind students that if they must exhibit safe behavior to be able to ride a bike along the course. If a student is not being safe, have them take a 5-minute break and observe others riding safely. When they are ready, ask them to come back into the group and show what they have learned.
Additional Videos
Safe Bicycle Riding Tips: Bicycle Safer Journey
Helmet Safety: Watermelon Helmet Safety Demonstration
Let's Go Program Video: A Bike of My Own
League of American Bicyclists: Ride Smart Videos
Parent and Family Communications
Statewide program Letter to families: English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, English (editable)
Bikeology Parent Guide - Parent Section, What Every Parent Should Know
Safe Biking Activity Book - Crosswords, Mad Libs, and other bike-related activities for students.
Bicycle Education Materials (with Spanish translations)- From Texas Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
