Youth Bike Program

Creation of an after school bicycle program for middle school youth.

Location

San Francisco, CA

Project Type

Grassroots Organizing

In 2004 I had a strong urge to merge my twin passions for bicycling and experiential education together. After writing multiple grant proposals, I finally received a $2000 grant to develop and pilot test a p.e.-based program with two 7th grade classes at Treasure Island Middle School. I worked with volunteer mechanics to fix up 30 donated bikes from the Police Department, and created an ad-hoc week-long curriculum. Half the students didn’t know how to ride, but by the end of the week all of the students improved their skills enough to ride their bikes during a day-long field trip to Golden Gate Park by the end of the week! The next year I co-wrote a $25,000 grant in collaboration with the Presidio YMCA, and together we created an after school program with three San Francisco middle schools that taught them urban riding skills. I handed the curriculum and program vision over to the YMCA, which is still going strong as the YBike program today.

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