Bike/Walk Central Florida’s recent bike safety event on November 8 was a fantastic opportunity to bring together students, educators, law enforcement, and community volunteers to promote a culture of safe and responsible biking. Held at Michigan Avenue Elementary in St. Cloud, the event focused on hands-on activities that covered essential bike and pedestrian safety skills, reaching nearly all 900 enrolled students throughout the day. By the end, 318 helmets were fitted, and hundreds of safety materials were distributed, ensuring every student left more informed and prepared to stay safe when biking and walking to school.
Event Purpose
The main goal of the event was to provide elementary students with practical knowledge and skills to ride bikes safely, instilling lifelong habits that will help them navigate streets and trails with confidence. Through engaging, interactive stations, each student had the chance to learn, ask questions, and practice essential bike safety habits.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet.
- Learn how to safely cross streets at crosswalks.
- Familiarize themselves with basic bike checks to ensure their bike is safe to ride.
- Practice bike hand signals for clear communication on the road.
- Grasp the importance of group riding etiquette and bike maintenance essentials.
Our Partners and Their Contributions
The success of the Osceola County Bike Safety Event wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration and support of our incredible partners. Each organization and individual played a pivotal role in ensuring the event was engaging, informative, and impactful for the students.
- Michigan Avenue Elementary Staff and Officer O’Neill
Both the Michigan Avenue Elementary staff and Officer O’Neil collaborated closely with our team to help coordinate the event and encouraged students to engage in each activity, with their enthusiastic support playing a key role in making the day a success.
- St. Cloud Police Department and Edwin Bicycles
The St. Cloud Police Department and Sonia from Edwin Bicycles joined us on bicycles, providing an exciting demonstration of safety in action. They showed students proper bicycle maintenance prior to riding and hand signals, making the experience both fun and engaging for the kids.
- Bike/Walk Central Florida Team
The Bike/Walk Central Florida team organized the outdoor activities and ensured everything ran smoothly despite the warm November weather. Their expertise and enthusiasm brought each station to life, making the activities both interactive and memorable for the students.
- Atkins Realis and FDOT Safety Trailer
Nathan and Anthony from Atkins Realis brought the FDOT Safety Trailer, providing students with hands-on interaction with real-life crosswalk lights and traffic signals equipped with cameras. This immersive experience captivated the students and reinforced their understanding of traffic safety.
- Helmet Fitting Crew (EXP, ASHA Planning, and Additional Volunteers)
The helmet fitting crew worked diligently to fit helmets on 318 students, ensuring that each one understood the importance of wearing a snug and properly positioned helmet for safety.
Class Activities Overview
Each class participated in interactive stations focused on both bike and pedestrian safety, teaching essential skills for navigating roads and crosswalks. Students practiced hand signals, learned road safety, and gained confidence in safely biking and walking to school.
- Safety Presentation
- Objective: To provide an overview of basic bike safety principles.
- Description: A quick presentation on helmet safety, road signals, and why following rules makes biking safe and fun.
- Helmet Fitting
- Objective: To teach kids how to wear a helmet correctly.
- Description: Kids learned how a helmet should sit on their heads, ensuring they knew the ‘two-finger rule’ to keep the helmet snug and secure. Each child had their helmet fitted by trained volunteers and took it home as a new safety habit.
- Crosswalk Safety Game
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- Objective: To practice crossing streets safely using crosswalks.
- Description: After learning crosswalk basics, students took part in a crosswalk game, practicing their skills with volunteer “crossing guards” and crosswalk symbol signs.
- Hand Signals Practice
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- Objective: To teach hand signals to improve communication and predictability while riding.
- Description: Kids practiced left, right, and stop hand signals, reinforcing the importance of letting others know their intentions when on the road.
- Bike Checks and Maintenance Basics
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- Objective: To ensure students know how to check that their bikes are safe to ride.
- Description: Students learned the ABCs of bike checks—Air, Brakes, and Chain/Cogs. They were shown how to inspect tires, test brakes, and clean and oil chains, with explanations of how these checks keep them safe.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to the dedication of our partners and volunteers, every student in need received a properly fitted helmet and gained a stronger understanding of bike and pedestrian safety. This event was a significant step toward ensuring our community’s youth are equipped with the skills and confidence to stay safe on the road. We’re excited to continue these efforts and look forward to expanding our reach at future events. If you’d like to make a difference and help empower more students with the knowledge and tools to stay safe, consider volunteering with us at an upcoming event! Together, we can build a safer, more bike-friendly community for all.
P.S. Relive the excitement of the day and see all the action! Check out the full photo gallery from the event on our Flickr album.
