Over 4,000 kids from 30 elementary schools have graduated from BikeWalkKC’s BLAST program since we started in 2012, and this fall we are excited to bring BLAST to four new schools in the Olathe School District.
BLAST: Bike Lesson And Safety Training
BLAST is a bike safety and handling skills training taught through PE classes at schools across the Kansas City metro. Students learn to bike safely and confidently to school and in their local neighborhood.
Three “mobile bike classrooms” bring a fleet 25 bikes and helmets to local schools. Our professional instructors lead students through four interactive sessions. BLAST kids learn about proper helmet fit, rules of the road, bicycle safety checks, road hazards, how to start, stop, scan and signal, and how to safely navigate through a model intersection.
Some students even learn how to ride a bike for the first time!
Olathe Partnerships
BikeWalkKC is thankful for this opportunity, which was made possible by a partnership between the Olathe School District, the City of Olathe and our four partnering elementary schools: Northview, Ridgeview, Ravenwood and Havencroft.
All 4th and 5th graders at these four schools will be participating in BLAST during the fall semester – a total of 440 students! Classes have already begun at two of the four schools and will be underway all four schools very soon. We have already received an overwhelmingly positive response from the principals, PE teachers, students, and parents at these schools.
Additionally, these four schools have the opportunity to participate in our Earn-a-Bike program, which teaches bike repair and maintenance skills and provides graduates with their very own bike to take home. BikeWalkKC anticipates providing 60 bicycles this year to Olathe students who do not have bikes through this program.
Everyone here at BikeWalkKC is excited to have the opportunity to begin this important work with students in Olathe. We look forward to providing access to bicycles, and to encouraging healthy and active lifestyles.