As the end of school approaches, teachers are doing their best to prepare students for the summer. Children leave their homes on bicycles to explore a world where adventure awaits them. They don’t understand that a bicycle is not a toy. It is their first vehicle and they must be responsible in its use.

After the mandatory statewide testing, Amarillo students and teachers needed a release. The fun began Thursday, April 20, at Highland Park Elementary School. Approximately 200 kindergarten, first and second graders shared in bicycle safety, helmet fitting, egg drop, bicycle parts identification and maintenance and hand signal games. PE Teacher Terry Brax agreed that the kids really enjoyed learning about bicycles and asked Texas Bicycle Coalition Outreach Coordinators Fernando Martinez and Joyce Cunningham to come back again next year. He advised Martinez and Cunningham that they allow two days for such clinics to be able to reach all 500 elementary school students.

Sanborn Elementary School devoted Monday, April 24 to bicycle safety for fourth and fifth graders. PE Teacher Judy Brax was eager to learn as much as possible from Martinez and Cunningham to be able to teach all their students. The kids were surprised to learn that the pegs on their bicycle are not there to allow transportation of a friend, and that they can use their bicycle to actually get to the store or school or library instead of just a toy to play with. The Seven Texas Bicycle Laws, bicycle safety, helmet fitting, egg drop, bicycle parts identification and relay race, bicycle maintenance and proper hand signals were new and exciting to the group.

Martinez and Cunningham want to thank Terry and Judy Brax (yes, they are husband and wife!) for their bicycle safety concern for the children in Amarillo schools. We look forward to working with them next school year for increased awareness in the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program.