When it comes to teaching kids how to ride bikes, nearly every advocacy organization offers programming like bike rodeos, skills classes or helmet fittings. But there are more innovative other ways to engage children—and their parents—in cycling safely and confidently even before kids reach school age.

On a recent Mutual Aid webinar, advocates discussed options for engaging the whole family in cycling. We learned about three different but equally exciting approaches to engaging parents and kids in bicycling:

• Kit Hodge, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, discussed her organization’s extensive programming to support family biking. SFBC publishes a guide to family biking and even has "loaner bikes" for parents to try out for biking with their families. Download the guide (in multiple languages!) here. 
• Shane MacRhodes -- Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Eugene, OR; board member at GEARs; and co-founder of Kidical Mass -- shared  tips on organizing family bike rides that double as adorable advocacy. Shane recommends starting rides in parks, incorporating at least some on-street routes, and ending with yummy food. Where do we sign up?
• Brenda Chuleewah, Safe Routes to School Teacher Training Program Manager at BikeTexas, described her organization's innovative SafeCyclist Curriculum. This “teach the teacher” program trains teachers, coaches and other youth leaders in leading cycling curriculums for 4th and 5th graders. Our favorite teaching tool: a “virtual bicycle” made of PVC pipe and rubber grips. Brenda uses it to demonstrate safe biking skills without the bike!

Missed the webinar? No worries -- watch the video below. 

You can also view Kit and Brenda’s presentation slides below. There are also additional resources on family and youth biking in our Resource Library. (We especially love Local Motion's WalkSmart/BikeSmart curriculum!)