Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School piloted bicycle safety education in the spring of 2024, at Harritt Elementary School. Harritt Elementary PE teachers taught our Safe Routes to School Jump Start bicycle safety curriculum to 3^rd to 5^th grade students. Many students had never been on a bicycle. In 2024, we estimate we taught 50 students how to ride a bike. In 2025, we taught approximately 30 more how to ride, most of those students were in the 3^rd grade and having the bicycle safety education for their first time.

Nellie was in the 3^rd grade last year and struggled to learn how to glide on the bikes. She remained determined this year in the 4^th grade to learn how to ride a bike. Nellie grew stronger, and showed how well she could glide on the bike. Once we put the pedals on the bike, and she got her feet placed on them, she learned how to ride so fast! She was really strong, and then rode the bike super fast. All the gliding she practiced paid off, and she became a strong rider. Nellie wears a brace over her ankle that extends up most of her calf, it doesn’t allow for her to bend the ankle at all. She didn’t let that slow her down, she figured it out and how to ride the bike. Both Nellie and I were overcome with joy when she learned how to ride!

Nellie’s little brothers got to try out our pilot of Learn to Ride with the Kindergarten to 2^nd grade students at Harritt. Her little brothers worried she couldn’t learn how to ride a bike. Nellie is strong willed and determined, and she proved them wrong. Those little brothers got to see her riding the bike outside and were so proud of her. That moment was very special for all of us. 

Nellie and her brothers also received our SK-SRTS vouchers, with money donated from the Salem Bicycle Club, to go get a bike from the NW Hub in Salem. 

This opportunity to teach bicycle safety education with Salem-Keizer Public Schools changed my life. I had no idea the way it would impact myself, our students, our PE teachers, Principals, families, and community. The simple beauty of riding a bike for a child is magical. They begin very scared, and over time they become empowered, and love riding bikes. Having the chance to learn how to ride a bike or perfect their safety skills in PE was PRICELESS! All children encouraged each other, even when another crashed, they helped them get back up and cheered for them to keep trying their best. 

The purpose of this program is to educate our students on how to be safe when riding a bike. In all honesty, this program helped children learn how to have fun and use active transportation. We also found that attendance in school increased when students came for the bikes in PE. ”