Summertime Bike Joy with Middle Schoolers
Gershwin wrote the lyrics, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” At SFBike, we try to add a little of that summertime joy each time we help a child ride a bike, whether it’s their first time learning to balance or their first time shredding trails in McLaren Park.
In July, our team spent a couple of days with students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Middle School working on bike riding skills and taking rides in the neighborhood. Over the course of two days, with the help of licensed cycling instructor, José, students strengthened their bike riding skills, deepened our understanding of the rules of the road and learned about bicycle infrastructure in the neighborhood. But most importantly, we found joy in moving around on two wheels under our own power.
The first day, after some nervous ice-breakers and introductions, we got right to practice on the school’s blacktop, with a painted three lane race track. José taught the students how to signal and scan. Just before the kids gots bored, we went over how to perform an emergency stop. Although how to stop is one of the first things you learn when riding a bike, stopping quickly is actually a very technical procedure. We got a few giggles as we demonstrated shifting our center of gravity back by throwing our weight back – “stick out your butt and apply both brakes evenly and firmly!” The ice was beginning to thaw.
After several quick stops we introduced an avoidance weave, a very useful skill to have when riding on our often potholed urban streets. After several minutes of that, we took a short break. Our colleague Dayra was waiting for us in the lower yard with our very popular bike blender, which the kids loved.
Following a bike blender smoothie break, we headed out on the streets. José and I were impressed with their level of communication when riding together, taking turns yelling “Stopping!” and “Rolling!” as we traveled. On our short ride we rode down Goettingen Street, a slow street. “What do you know about slow streets?” “Not much.” “Remember the pandemic?” Every teenager loves a good dystopian story. The ice melted further.
Day 2 was all about a ride to Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA). After a few stoplight crossings, train tracks and car-heavy streets we arrived at one of San Francisco’s many unique parks. Still in the shadow of the now demolished Candlestick Park stadium, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA) offers 204 acres of space to enjoy many outdoor activities including, of course, biking. The trails weave through a narrow green space often just inches from the water of the Bay. Mostly paved, but some dirt and gravel as well, the ride added a challenge and thrill for a few of the students. I heard whoops of joy and saw looks of accomplishment on their faces. Though it took us less than an hour by bike to reach our break spot, none of the students had ever visited CPSRA. I felt my own sense of accomplishment knowing that I was bringing something to these kids that’s not always easy to find – that summertime joy, and a chance to explore and learn about things outside of their immediate surroundings.
When we returned to MLK, we had a closing circle where students talked about what they most enjoyed, and what they found the most challenging. They all loved riding fast, seeing the bay, and just getting out on the streets. Many felt challenged by the hills and riding on the busy streets. One student said they both enjoyed riding down the dirt path the most and felt most challenged by it. Gone was most of the nervousness, replaced by confident voices and proud smiles. Mission accomplished!
If you’d like to bring our Safe Routes to School programming to your kid’s school, please reach out to me at kenny@sfbike.org and we can make that happen!