Safe routes program for kids and new bike law keep Colorado bike-friendly

May 21, 8:06 PMDenver Children's Health ExaminerRebecca Kessler

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Biking is fun, and it’s a great way for kids to enjoy nature, socialize and get fit. However, studies show fewer kids are choosing to pedal or walk to school, based on real or perceived factors such as safety concerns and school distance.

The numbers say it all. Thirty years ago more than 66 percent of all U.S. children bicycled or walked to school, but today this number has shrunk to 13 percent, while most kids are driven to school. Kids are less active, with over 130,000 Colorado kids obese or overweight. This not only affects students’ energy in the classroom, it increases their risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

The good news is that Colorado is a bike-friendly state, with more than 1.5 million active cyclists, plus over 699,000 bicycling tourists who boost our economy. Families get to enjoy the benefits of so much pedaling power, including access to scenic roadways and trails; bicycle safety legislation; and educational programs for kids.

Bicycle Safety Bill

In an effort to protect riders and create safer roads, Governor Bill Ritter recently signed the Bicycle Safety Bill, which takes effect August 5th. The bill gives motorists freedom to pass a bicyclist by crossing the center line when it is safe to do so -- mandating a three-foot passing distance around cyclists. Language in the bill makes throwing an object toward a bicyclist a class-two misdemeanor and driving toward a bicyclist in a dangerous manner a careless-driving offense. The Bicycle Colorado website does an excellent job of summarizing the new law.

Safe Routes to School

Creating safer roads and protecting bikers is part of the solution. Educating kids on how to safely ride or walk plays a big part, too. The nationwide Safe Routes to School program funds improvements to bicycle/pedestrian environments near schools and education efforts to teach students, parents, and teachers safe bicycling and walking practices. And thanks to the generous support of a broad coalition of state and national supporters, Safe Routes to School has been in Colorado for several years now and continues to expand.

Jenna Berman, education manager for Bicycle Colorado, said  “As part of the Safe Routes to School curriculum, we teach kids in grades K-8 important safety skills, such as helmet fit, rules of the road and how to conduct a quick bicycle maintenance check. We also include a bicycle skills course.”

The results have been amazing, with one pilot program reporting 72 percent of all students now walking or riding to school, a 620 percent increase. And the school is not alone.  "Other schools have reported similar increases," says Berman.  "Parents and students tell us that they love the program.  The kids arrive to school more alert and refreshed, and are healthier as a result of the exercise."

To learn more about this program, including a list of participating Colorado communities, visit Bicycle Colorado, or contact Education Director Maggie Thompson, maggie@bicyclecolo.org, to see how easy it is to launch Safe Routes to School in your area.