Fall School News: Bike Safety Education and the Hammond Bike Train

The Center for Disease Control just released news of a new study that suggests diabetes rates could triple by 2050.

Today's kids will be in prime middle age then, and healthy habits today can reduce the incidence 40 years from now.

Local Bike Safety Education and bike trains can help with creating healthy lifestyles that include active transportation!

Every fall the Mid-Willamette Valley Chapter of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance teaches Bike Safety Education. Here Instructor Robert Fox teaches at the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School.

After 10 hours of class time and parking lot drills, the students go out on a five mile community ride on their neighborhood streets.

Volunteers from the Salem Bicycle Club, MWVBTA, and local racing clubs, as well as interested parents and teachers, lead small groups of five or six students as they practice signaling, turning, stopping, and navigating around traffic.

Everybody has a blast, and the students learn important bike handling and safety skills.

A couple of weeks earlier, Robert was out at Pratum Elementary School. That ride included a stop for treats at the Willamette Fruit Company!

(Bike Safety photos: Sage Freeman, member of Capitol Velo in Salem, OR.)

Bike Train comes to Hammond Elementary

Bike trains are a great way for kids to bike to school! The trains have adult conductors and cabooses, can accommodate a range of ages and skill levels, and offer healthy, active transportation options.

Daniel Evans, a parent at Hammond Elementary school, is organizing their own bike train! And they need volunteers. If you're an interested parent of a Hammond Elementary student, hit the volunteer page.

Salem's Walk and Bike Update to the Transportation System Plan has a special focus on Safe Routes to School. Biking is fun, and has an important role in public health!