Students from the five kindergarten classes at Benjamin Logan Elementary School (BLES) received a fun surprise on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 15: 24 new balance bikes for physical education classes.
The bikes, which don’t have pedals in order to improve balance, were provided by a South Dakota company called All Kids Bike (AKB). Helmets, bike racks and a traffic safety kit were also included. Eleven schools in Honda communities were chosen for the bike program, which was paid for by a $100,000 grant.
“Honda gave us a grant to place bikes in schools across the country and chose this area because it’s local to their plants,” Nichole Buchholz, public relations manager for AKB. Each individual program costs $9,000.
For BLES PE teacher Tiann Harner, it’s a great opportunity. Previously, she’s played games that centered around whether students could ride a bike, but that wasn’t enough.
“We’ve had bike accidents in the community,” Harner said, “and I think it’s important to teach safety and how to use the proper equipment.”
The initial program, which helps kids learn balance and build confidence in bike riding, lasts eight weeks. However, Harner expects to revisit it throughout the year, especially in the spring when children are more likely to get back on their bikes.
