Call for Proposals (due 2/13/26) - One Kansas school district will receive bikes, equipment, and professional development to launch a BLAST program for elementary school students
BikeWalkKC, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will award one Kansas school district with a Bicycle Lessons And Safety Training (BLAST) train-the-trainer program. The training will prepare physical education (PE) teachers on how to deliver the BLAST curriculum to 5th grade students in the district’s elementary schools and includes all necessary equipment and supplies.
What is BLAST?
BikeWalkKC developed BLAST in 2012 as part of its Safe Routes to School programming. It is a primer for students to gain an understanding of how to safely operate a bicycle in a variety of situations. Primarily offered to 5th graders over four PE classes. BikeWalkKC instructors bring fleets of bikes to each school so students do not need to have their own bikes to participate. Instructors create real-world riding experiences through various physical course configurations. The goal is to produce confident cyclists who ride safely and skillfully. By incorporating BLAST into the classroom, PE teachers provide their students with a formal education on active transportation and help create a culture that values cycling as a lifelong skill.
What will the winning school district receive if selected?
The school district will receive a fleet of youth bicycles (32 total), helmets, course materials (mini-stop signs, traffic cones, lane markers, etc.), and a trailer for hauling and transporting equipment. Please note that the school district will need to provide a suitable vehicle for the hauling trailer.
BikeWalkKC and the selected school district will work together to find the best dates and times for the training program. Experienced BLAST instructors from BikeWalkKC’s education staff will facilitate the training program for the school district’s elementary PE teachers. The majority of the instructors are licensed League Cycling Instructors. Teachers will learn how to: create different practice courses for each lesson; properly fit a helmet; check a bicycle for operational safety; learn basic bike maintenance; and evaluate student and program success. The goal is to give teachers the resources and professional development needed to fully implement BLAST in their classes.
Applicant expectations and requirements
Applicants must be a school district in the State of Kansas. The chosen school district must:
- Demonstrate support for active transportation and Safe Routes to School initiatives and programs.
- Agree to offer the BLAST program at least once per year.
- Ensure that elementary PE teachers regularly participate in professional development on bicycle safety programming and instruction.
- Maintain all bikes in good working order and perform all necessary safety checks and repairs via:
- relationships with local bike shops and bike mechanics to perform maintenance and repairs, and/or
- committing to professional development for school staff so they are qualified to service program bicycles.
- In lieu of formal reporting requirements, share successes, challenges, and constructive feedback about the BLAST program.
- Prioritize safety! The school district and staff must be willing to maintain equipment that is safe for students to use and address unsafe behaviors of both students and adults during BLAST programming.
Important dates
- Jan 19 - Feb 13: Applications may be submitted during this time period.
- Feb 16-20: Application review and selection process
- Feb 23: Award announcement; all applicants will be notified of their status
How to apply
An electronic form will be available on BikeWalkKC’s website, found here: https://forms.gle/oPoyETUKEBt74rZJ8 . The person submitting the application must have the appropriate permissions to submit the request on behalf of the school district. Interested parties should submit any questions to education@bikewalkkc.org.
