Thoreau Elementary leads the way in bike safety education

Students at Thoreau Elementary are pedaling into a new era of safety and fun! This year, they became the first participants in the Let’s Go Bicycle Program, a statewide initiative funded by the Climate Commitment Act and administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which selected Cascade Bicycle Club to design and implement the program. 

The program aims to teach elementary students the essentials of bike riding and safety. To prepare, PE teachers from seven schools attended specialized training sessions led by Cascade Bicycle Club representatives. These sessions equipped educators with the skills to guide students in riding confidently and responsibly.

To make biking accessible for all, the district received a bike trailer stocked with standard and adaptive bicycles. This ensures that every student, regardless of ability, can join in the experience. The trailer will rotate among schools, giving each campus a month-long opportunity to integrate biking into PE classes.

The ultimate goal? By next school year, every school in Lake Washington School District will have access to this program, fostering a culture of safe cycling and active lifestyles for all students.