We need your help providing bicycles to 4th-6th grade students who participate in our Earn-a-Bike program. Since 2012, BikeWalkKC has given out over 300 bicycles to Kansas City area youth.
What is Earn-a-Bike?
Students learn basic bicycle mechanics, advocacy, and safety skills with weekly projects. A small class size allows for individual instructor training to ensure understanding of the concepts. Students are tested based on their knowledge of the subjects through various worksheets and quizzes. With successful completion of the program, students receive a bicycle they helped to fix.
Earn-a-Bike Goals
- Proficiency of basic bicycle maintenance
- Appreciation for biking as a means of transportation to and from school
- Understanding of barriers that prevent students from walking and biking to school
Why is Earn-a-Bike Important?
The Earn-a-Bike program came about as a result of seeing a high need for bicycles in Kansas City urban schools. Students that participate in the Bicycle Lesson and Safety Training (BLAST) program learn traffic laws, safety and handling skills, but frequently don’t have a bike to go home to and practice these skills. Through a series of after school lessons, BikeWalkKC’s Earn-a-Bike program teaches students parts identification, flat repair, basic bicycle maintenance, small scale advocacy and bike safety.
By instilling maintenance skills in the students, Earn-a-Bike participants are empowered to repair their own bikes at home. This also provides a sense of ownership with the students and the bikes they work hard to earn.
Contact:
Laura Steele
Education Director
laura.steele@bikewalkkc.org
816-205-7056