Applying to host the Youth Cycling Program
The program visits schools and other youth organizations with bikes, helmets, instructors, and an active curriculum that gets students riding.
Want to host the program at your school?
One to two coordinators or “hosts” from the school need to help us figure out the details and work with us during the visit. As a host, you will need to meet these requirements:
- Establish support with the school principal and teachers. Introduce bicycle staff to the principal and school nurse on the first day of the program.
- Create a schedule for the visit. We need a full day with a minimum of four teaching hours during the school day. We can’t help schools with large scheduling gaps.
- Section off students in groups by grade level. The three groups would be students grades two through five, five through eight, and nine through 12.
- Hand out waivers to students ahead of time so they can participate.
- Find a secure place to store about 30 bikes. The storage should be on the ground floor, and you would need to coordinate the arrival and pick-up of the bikes.
- Ensure that a teacher is always with a group of students biking. Please share information with teachers taking part in the program.
- Find an appropriate and available place for the students to ride their bikes, like a closed-off parking lot or park.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Boston Bikes
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1 City Hall Square, Room 721
Boston, MA 02201
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Want to bring the program to your school?
Our Youth Cycling Program Application for Fall 2016 will be coming soon. If you have any questions, contact Jenny Duquette at jenny.duquette@boston.gov, or call 617-635-3967.
If you want additional enrichment around biking and walking at your K-8 school, visit Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Contact Leeroy Wagner, the statewide coordinator for the program, at leeroy.wagner@state.ma.us.
Preparing for the program
- Please send us a draft of the schedule two weeks before our visit, and a finalized version four days after that. If you don’t, we will fill your spot with another school.
- Bikes are usually delivered on the Friday before the program or on our first day. We will give you two days notice before the bike delivery.
- Everyone that takes part in our program needs a signed waiver. You are responsible for collecting and tracking completed waivers. Please give us the waivers by the end of the program. If we’re riding away from the school, we suggest you carry the waivers with you for emergency contact information.
- We need your help with behavior and group management. As an active participant, you will likely find yourself riding a bike with your students.
- We are not responsible for responding to any emergencies. You need to be prepared in case of a crash and know the school protocol.
- Boston Bikes instructors will have first aid kits on their bikes, but you are responsible for administering first aid and contacting the school or emergency services. You are also responsible for telling the school nurse, parents, and principal about any incidents.
- We don’t mind rain, but if we feel weather conditions are unsafe, we reserve the right not to ride. For rainy days, we also have a number of possible indoor activities.
- The program includes an interactive workshop on the first day that we would prefer to hold in a classroom, if one is available. We can help students in afterschool programs that we won’t see during the day.
- Please feel free to ask parents if they want to volunteer to help.
Important links and forms
Important links and formsMore resources for biking
More biking resources-
Still have questions? Contact:
Boston Bikes
-
1 City Hall Square, Room 721
Boston, MA 02201
-
Want to bring the program to your school?
Our Youth Cycling Program Application for Fall 2016 will be coming soon. If you have any questions, contact Jenny Duquette at jenny.duquette@boston.gov, or call 617-635-3967.
If you want additional enrichment around biking and walking at your K-8 school, visit Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Contact Leeroy Wagner, the statewide coordinator for the program, at leeroy.wagner@state.ma.us.
