MIDDLEBURY — Cycle Addison County, organizers of the Vermont Gran Fondo, recently kicked off a partnership with Local Motion’s Bike Smart program. Proceeds generated from this past June’s Vermont Gran Fondo cycling event will provide funding to bring Bike Smart skills trainings to four Addison County schools during spring 2016.
Bike Smart is a games-based bike skills training program that teaches kids how to ride bikes safely with the goal of keeping them active and injury-free.
During the school year, Bike Smart loans its two trailers full of bikes plus all needed equipment and supplies to Vermont schools that want to conduct on-bike skills trainings for students in grades K-8. In addition to the trailer, the loaner program provides teachers with a detailed curriculum guide, training and technical support, and access to low-cost helmets for kids.
In the summer, Bike Smart works with municipal parks and recreation departments to incorporate bike skills into summer camps, providing all needed equipment and supplies plus trainers and counselor training.
This year, due to a reduction in funding from a grantor, Bike Smart is only able to deploy one trailer. The funds from Cycle Addison County’s Vermont Gran Fondo event will make it possible for Local Motion to deliver the second Bike Smart trailer to four Addison County schools and summer camps.
To learn more about the Bike Smart trailer, visit www.kohlskidsbikesmart.org If you are interested in bringing the Bike Smart program to your school or organization, go to this link to request the trailer: http://bit.ly/2016BikeSmart.