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On Friday morning the parking lot
north of Mount Pulaski Grade School was buzzing with kids on bikes.
Kindergarten through third grade students got the opportunity to
ride bikes and learn bike safety through a course offered by McBloNo
Kids Bike of Bloomington-Normal.
Pat Dullard is the driving force behind the McBloNo bike program and
Dan Steadman is his helper.
While Dullard was busy getting kids fitted for bikes, Steadman
explained the bike safety program.
“Pat got a grant through the State of Illinois to do this bike
education course called Safe Routes to School. We go around to
different schools with these bikes promoting safety education,” said
Steadman.
On Friday the duo unloaded a trailer full of Trek bikes of all
sizes, some with training wheels and many without. With the help of
eighth grade students, the men lined the bikes up and helped the
younger kids pick out a bike suitable to their size for comfortable
and safe riding. Of course, the students were fitted for helmets
first.
Four different riding stations were set up on the parking lot
featuring courses from a straight path to a figure eight. Teachers
were assigned to help supervise the stations.
Dullard and Steadman, who both have a passion for bikes and bike
trails, monitored the kids and explained safety to them as they
stayed busy pedaling. Some kids were really experienced bike riders
and others were riding for the first time. Both men had a lot of
patience in guiding the kids in the right direction.
The kids were really having a blast
on the bikes, after all bike riding is truly one of the most
rewarding activities a kid can do.
MPGS Physical Education teacher Mindy Switzer recognizes that bike
riding is a great workout for kids and she orchestrated the event
along with other staff.
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Dan Steadman adjusts the bike to fit Gabe Switzer. Photo by Teena Lowery.
“Linda Smith, Mrs.
Vanderberg and I really wanted to incorporate bike riding and
bike safety into the PE curriculum because of the many benefits
it provides,” said Switzer. “Bike riding can improve overall
physical and mental health, enhance motor skills, balance,
coordination and independence, and provide a lifelong means of
transportation for these students. We are hoping to see more
students riding their bikes safely to school when the weather
permits. We are also hoping to do this yearly or every other
year.”
And here’s some great news for those who love biking on local
trails:
Steadman mentioned that work has begun on the extension of the
Route 66 bike trail south of Shirley towards Atlanta. A trail
already goes from Shirley north to Bloomington and connects to
Constitution Trail.
Steadman also had breaking news to report. “A grant just came
through on Thursday night to extend the bike trail from Towanda
to Lexington. The grant had been pulled before but now it’s a
go!”
Another bit of exciting news for bicycle enthusiasts.
Constitution Trail in and around Bloomington-Normal already
features over 40 miles of paved trails with beautiful scenery
and the thought of connecting the trail to neighboring
communities along Interstate 55 and Historic Route 66 is really
fantastic.
[Teena Lowery] |
