All Kids Bike program teaches students the value of learning how to ride

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - All Kids Bike is a nationwide non-profit whose sole purpose is to help every kindergartner learn how to ride a bike in P.E. class.

Kindergartners and first graders strapped on their helmets with the help of 5th-grade ambassadors.

They showed off their biking skills by riding around the gym to the cheers of their classmates and teachers.

Even the governor took his turn, understanding the program’s importance.

“Talk to your P.E. teachers and see how excited your P.E. teachers are about this opportunity to have a program like this that teaches responsibility, leadership, accountability as well as a lifetime skill of biking,” said North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

All Kids Bike has over 1,500 programs nationwide, but North Dakota will stand out as the only state in the country to offer this bike riding program to every elementary school statewide through state and private funding.

Not every child learns to ride a bike, and that contributes to chronic missed school days. The organization’s goal is to reverse those trends.

“It builds confidence. It’s more than just a bike. They’re getting focused. When they get to burn that energy in P.E. class on bikes they do better in math, science and reading class. It just makes that whole child in the school system,” said All Kids Bike Executive Director Lisa Weyer.

So, are kids excited to learn how to ride?

“I’m going to be eight and I’m going to ride a bike, but it’ll still be kind of hard because I’ve got to do it without my training wheels on my bike,” said Bella, a Will-Moore Elementary first grader.

All Kids Bike has taught almost 150,000 kids this year to learn how to ride a bike.

You can find more information on the program on the All Kids Bike website.