By Brandon Schubach, BikeWalkKC Youth Education Instructor A novice rider… One 5th-grade girl stood out amidst the laughter and excitement of field day at Rushton Elementary School in Johnson County. Mia (name changed to protect her privacy), a student with a determined spirit and a newfound passion for biking, embarked on a journey that would […]
Category Archives: Safe Routes to School
Observations from the Meyer Boulevard Walk Audit
In the fall of 2023, BikeWalkKC worked with residents and organizations along Meyer Boulevard to identify challenges with the built environment and recommend changes. The resulting report is already beginning to spur safety improvements. It has long been known that Meyer Boulevard is a dangerous corridor. Anecdotes from people who live and work along the […]
Jeung rides a bike!
By Joanna Weidler-Lewis, BikeWalkKC Education Instructor Words matter except for when they don’t I have learned a lot about language in my brief time working as an instructor for BikeWalkKC. Sure, I have picked up some Spanish. (!Ojos Arriba! !Ojos Arriba! !Parar!) I have also used Google Translate to help find expressions in Burmese, Punjabi, […]
“I Can Do This…” Luna learns to ride a bike
By Steve White, BikeWalkKC Education Instructor “How long have you been riding a bike, Mr. Steve?” “Do I get to keep this bike, Mr. Steve?” “YAYYY! It’s almost dinner time! What’s your FAVORITE dinner, Mr. Steve?” Luna had me smiling from the get-go with her constant questions and chatter. More than once I said to […]
5 Safe Routes to School Success Stories
Go back to school with BikeWalkKC! We have highlighted a few of our favorite #SafeRoutesToSchool Success Stories: all true, all inspirational, and all absolutely doable. If these parents, school staff, and city leaders can work together to make change, you can too. Roesland Elementary The Roesland Elementary School PTA and the City of Roeland Park, […]
From the Paper to the Pavement in Blue Springs
Now open: a bridge between Blue Springs High School campuses Not even a freight train could stop Matt Roberds from building Safe Routes to School for students in Blue Springs! Two years ago, the Blue Springs City Council began planning improvements for Blue Springs High School, but the plan lacked any investment in better walking […]
Pedaling confidence in BikeWalkKC’s summer youth programs
We always say that it’s not just about bikes. This summer, learning how to ride confidently and maintain their own bikes unlocked a sense of confidence and discovery in our students at our youth programs in Kansas City, Missouri. “One student at the Tony Aguirre Community Center needed a little guidance on the first day, […]
New Stanley Elementary nurtures a neighborhood culture of walking and biking
New Stanley Elementary in Kansas City, Kansas is special. In an era of school budget cuts and hour-long school bus commutes, New Stanley is a true neighborhood school. About half of the students already walk to school, and P.E. teacher Jennifer Spears says that it wouldn’t take much for nearly all of the students to […]
40,000+ champions for walking and biking
Can you believe it? Over 40,000 students have learned walking and biking confidence and safety with BikeWalkKC since 2012! What do we want for the kids in our lives? Do we want them to enjoy the freedom to walk to school, ride their bikes to the park, and play outside in their neighborhoods? BikeWalkKC’s bicycling […]
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
BikeWalkKC’s youth education may look like a party on wheels, but we take bike safety seriously. Our BLAST (Bicycle Lessons And Safety Training) classes teach kids how to ride safely and confidently, and how to use a bike for recreation and transportation. Before we bring a BLAST session to a school, the students take a […]