WRWC’s & RIDOT’s Rhode to Bicycle Safety (R2BS) program kicked off this September for the fall season! This year, the program runs from September 9th through November, reaching schools throughout Rhode Island, including:

  • Hampden Meadows School (Barrington)
  • Fallon Memorial School (Pawtucket)
  • Hugh Cole School (Warren)
  • Flora Curtis School (Pawtucket)
  • Excel Academy (North Providence)
  • Raymond LaPerche Elementary School (Smithfield)
  • Pleasant View Elementary School (Smithfield)
  • Winter Elementary School (Pawtucket)
  • Veterans Memorial Elementary School (Central Falls)

Program Overview

Exclusively designed for 5th graders, R2BS is a 180-minute course featuring four sessions that combine classroom instruction with on-bike training. Since its inception in 2019, R2BS has empowered roughly 1,300 students annually with essential biking skills, teaching them how to ride safely and confidently in their communities.

What Students Learn

During the program, students receive comprehensive training on:

  • Rules of the Road
  • Helmet Fitting and Safety
  • Right of Way
  • Navigating Intersections
  • Bicycle Safety Checks

Each student is provided with a Trek Wahoo bike and a helmet for use during the program. And each student gets to keep their helmet!

Building Confidence on Two Wheels

 

R2BS instructors transport 45 bikes to each participating school, ensuring that all students have access to properly sized bicycles. We offer three sizes to accommodate our students, including 20-inch, 24-inch, and 26-inch wheel bikes.

The fgirst class begins with a pre-test to assess students’ knowledge of biking rules, followed by engaging lessons that build skills in a safe and supportive environment. Instructors create customized riding courses at each school, allowing students to practice essential skills such as:

  • Starting and stopping
  • Maintaining straight lines
  • Bike Handeling
  • Using proper hand signals for left, right, and stop
  • Scanning their surroundings and communicating their intentions while riding
  • Proper lane placement
  • Right of Way Rules

One of the program highlights is the “Snail Race,” where students compete to see who can go the slowest while maintaining their balance, adding a fun element to their learning experience.

Transformative Experience

“Witnessing their confidence blossom as they master these skills is incredibly rewarding for both instructors and students alike,” said Donny Green, Bike Education Director. “To date, close to 200 students who have either never ridden a bike or have only ridden with training wheels have learned to ride through our program, seeing them transform into confident riders is just one of the many aspects that makes this program truly special.”

If you’re interested in bringing the R2BS program to your school or want to learn more, please reach out to our Bike Education Director, Donny Green, at dgreen@wrwc.org. We are always eager to partner with new schools and help more students experience the joy and freedom of riding a bike!