Yamaha has announced it will donate $30,000 in funding to All Kids Bike programs in Georgia and California, supporting six full learn-to-ride programs in the two states.
All Kids Bike was started by the Strider Education Foundation and it seeks to develop learn-to-ride programs in kindergartens across the country, incorporating bicycle riding lessons into PE programs to help kids develop confidence, balance, mobility, and exercise.
“Research shows approximately seventy-five percent of kids won’t even ride a bicycle one time this year,” said Ryan McFarland, All Kids Bike founder, in a Yamaha press release. “We believe it’s critical for the future of our kids and our communities to change that stat, so All Kids Bike is on a mission to teach every kid in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class. We share a common goal with the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative of getting people outside and enjoying nature. This is a big win for our program, but mostly for the kids at these schools.”
The funding goes toward providing each program with balance bikes, helmets, pedal conversion kits, and teachers’ bikes.
“With kids in the US spending an average of seven hours a day on a digital screen, it’s never been more important for companies like Yamaha to invest in the future of outdoor recreation by getting our youth off of the devices, and participating in healthy and fun activities to increase their confidence, instill valuable life lessons, and simply enjoy all the outdoors has to offer,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports marketing manager, in the same release.
All Kids Bike is designed to be easily implemented in schools and is aligned with SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards. Programs also include an eight-lesson curriculum, teacher training, and certification. There are currently 350 schools across 45 states with All Kids Bike programs in place, and 50 additional schools planning to have active programs by the end of the year.
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com