Hundreds of 4J students have been celebrating biking, honing their skills and even learning to ride for the first time in after-school “bike rodeos” held at elementary schools across Eugene School District 4J. The rodeo is is scheduled at River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School.
4J’s Safe Routes to School program and the YMCA have teamed up to bring the bike education program to students. Riders have great fun practicing their bike handling skills in a “traffic garden”—a bike obstacle course made of cones and mini-street signs. They receive hands-on instruction on stopping, starting, turns, hand signals, riding in a straight line and avoiding obstacles. Students also learn about pedal power by taking turns making a smoothie with a pedal-powered blender. For some riders this is their first time on a bike. For others, it’s a great opportunity to improve.