As the school year draws to a close, children are daydreaming of a summer of carefree fun and adventure. After successfully completing BTA’s bike safety education courses that are taught in schools throughout the state, bike riding can now be tops on the summer to-do list for thousands of Oregon children now that they are armed with safe riding skills and better riding techniques.
For at least one child, however, riding his bike is a brand new experience. After completing a BTA bike safety education class, a teacher in Ashland sent the following:
“My ed. assistant taught one of my students to ride a bike this week. He was bouncing off the walls with excitement. His self-image was more positively influenced by this than by anything I have done with him in the two years I have had him. The child development specialist found money to buy him a bike. This is all because you offered bike safety to our class. If you ever wonder if you make a difference, let me assure you that the answer is yes.”
If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this summer or during the coming school year, or if you’re wondering where to put some valuable donation dollars, I encourage you to consider BTA’s bike safety programs and its larger parent program, Safe Routes to Schools. Surely we all understand the necessity of helping children find their own inner strength and gain independence. Bike safety education is one of the ways this can happen for children, and this example – and hundreds of others – are living proof.
