Grant Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Bike Program

The Bicycle Fitness program will celebrate its 16th year of operations this year.  Grants from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Salvation Army, the Pilot Club and Cox Communications will fund the 2009 program.  The special anniversary emphasis will also provide free helmets for all the participants.  The program began in 1994 when the Pratt Health Foundation (PHF) received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

The program was cancelled on Monday, March 23rd at Southwest Elementary due to inclement weather.  Weather permitting it will begin on Tuesday, March 24th at Haskins Elementary.  The program designed for Pratt County third and fourth grade students is offered at Southwest Elementary on Mondays and Wednesdays and at Haskins Elementary on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

The program is designed to provide an exercise program while teaching kids the “rules of the road” and bicycle safety.  Children are monitored by adults throughout the program.  DeWayne Bryan, the PHF Executive Director, rides his bike with the kids and is often found at the front of the long line of students.  Peggy Lee, the Pratt County Community Service Coordinator, schedules adults to watch the traffic at busy intersections and the PHF provides a support vehicle that follows the kids to care for injured or broken down bikers.  Usually the line of bikers stretches out for blocks.  The kids work up to a three mile bike ride, two times a week within a six week time frame. 

The free program motivates kids through new bicycles and/or helmets.  Kids in the program are required to wear helmets, signal, ride on the right side of the road, develop courteous driving habits, watch for traffic and generally cooperate.  Those who get less than three tickets over the duration of the program are placed in a drawing for a new bicycle. 

“Often the weather is the biggest challenge,” states Bryan.  “Our rules for the program are:  if the temperature on “Time & Temperature,” (672-5654), is less than 55 degrees at noon;  it is raining;  or there is a forecast of inclement weather, we will cancel the ride for the day.  It is always a challenge to coordinate the program on days when the weather is marginal.  The schools can be contacted on the days when the weather is in question.  

This year the expenses of the program are covered by several grants but usually the bike and the helmets are provided by a distribution from a Pratt Health Foundation endowed fund for kids and support from the Pratt County Health Department.  Those interested in helping in any way should contact the Pratt Health Foundation office.