Press Release | November 1, 2021
Two LA Schools Receive Learn-to-Ride Programs Funded by Flying Piston Benefit Fundraiser
This is a press release from All Kids Bike…
Los Angeles, CA (November 1, 2021) – All Kids Bike, a nationwide movement of the Strider Education Foundation, recently partnered with the Flying Piston Benefit to deliver cycling education to Los Angeles kindergarten PE classes at Marvin Elementary School and 6th Avenue Elementary School. Thanks to the programs delivered last week, every kindergarten student at these schools over the next five years will have the opportunity to learn to ride a bike in PE class.
On Friday, October 29, 2021, All Kids Bike hosted a bike build with the Flying Piston Benefit and other motorsports and cycling industry VIPs at the Petersen Automotive Museum, assembling Strider bikes and delivering them to waiting kids and teachers at both schools in Los Angeles. Notable celebrity guests and supporters in attendance included US Olympian and pro tour cyclist, Tony Cruz; Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button; professional racer, Terry Madden; actor Sean McNabb; and musician Tanya O’Callaghan. All Kids Bike founder, Ryan McFarland; Sturgis Buffalo Chip owner, Rod Woodruff; and Los Angeles Unified School District’s chief academic officer, Aliso Yoshimoto-Towery were also in attendance.
Terry Madden, Marilyn Stemp, Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, Ryan McFarland and Tony Cruz.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Flying Piston Benefit, the time and talent donated by custom builders, and the support of the buyers at Mecum Auction, and everyone who attended today’s bike build and delivery here in Los Angeles we’ve been able to expand the All Kids Bike Program to two schools in LAUSD, helping us move closer to our goal of getting every child in America on a bicycle,” said All Kids Bike Founder, Ryan McFarland. “Starting kids on bikes as early as kindergarten can make a significant impact in their lives, not only with their skills and development, but their enthusiasm to engage in physical fitness and outdoor recreation that can carry on throughout their lives.”
McFarland had just wrapped a weeklong sprint across the country delivering All Kids Bike programs to kids in Omaha alongside Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, then to Laguna Beach, California, delivering programs with mountain biking legend and All Kids Bike ambassador Brian Lopes, before leading the effort in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the second largest in the nation serving over 600,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade at over 1,000 schools. While All Kids Bikes programs have already been implemented in more than 385 schools in 45 states, adopting the All Kids Bike program throughout LAUSD can serve hundreds-of-thousands of kids for years to come and create a tipping point for awareness, funding and adoption at schools across the country.
“The need is critical and timely, the program is impactful, and adoption is accelerating as more people become aware of this opportunity to help kids at a time when they need every opportunity to get outside, build confidence, have fun, and learn positive life lessons,” McFarland said. “We can’t wait to see the positive impact this program will have on the city of Los Angeles and across the country.”
McFarland has often citied startling facts that inspired the creation of All Kids Bike. Kids today are spending over seven hours per day on screens, they are more sedentary than ever before, and obesity and related health issues are at record highs. Seventy-five percent of US kids won’t ride a bicycle even one time this year. For many, it is simply because they don’t know how to ride and have never tasted the joy and independence riding offers. And studies show that, compared with 10 years ago, there has been a 35 percent drop in the number of kids riding bicycles today.
Learning to ride a bike at a young age increases confidence while developing balance, mobility, safety, environmental awareness, and facilitating exercise. The bikes used in the All Kids Bike program allow children and teachers to progress through the riding process void of fear and full of encouragement. Kids develop their skills with each session, first learning to balance, then learning to pedal, all on the same bicycle.
With every new school entered in the All Kids Bike program, more children across the country are learning life skills and getting much needed exercise while getting away from their computer screens and spending more time outdoors. The Kindergarten PE Program supports critical health and safety needs, including the following:
• Spatial awareness: Teaches the concept and understanding of “safe distancing” to a child.
• Limited touch points: Specifically-designated hand placement limits cross-class touch points.
• Fosters overall health: Core muscle development, cardio activity, and mental motivation.
The All Kids Bike school funding and waiting lists are online at https://support.allkidsbike.org
