LITTLE RIDER CO – ‘Industry Inspiration’ Interview Series- All Kids Bike

  

 

 

      

 

How did you get your ‘job’? (How All Kids Bike started)

In March 2017, the Strider Education Foundation was created with the dream of teaching every child how to ride a bike. We know that learning to ride a bike is about much more than pedaling a two-wheel bike, it’s about the confidence, freedom, health benefits, and the joy that conquering a new skill brings to developing hearts and minds.

There is a shocking decline in youth ridership, and children simply aren’t learning to ride. When the Strider 14x Sport Balance Bike was released, we built the proven All Kids Bike Learn-To-Ride curriculum specific to Kindergarten PE.

Reaching kids in PE class is the fastest way to reach all children, eliminating any potential barriers. Since the launch of the All Kids Bike, 342 schools are running the program in 42 states. 

  

 

What is your business/brand and WHY do you do what you do?

All Kids Bike is a national movement, led by the Strider Education Foundation, to place Kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride Programs into public schools for free, using donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations.

We’re on a mission to teach EVERY child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class. We believe that learning to ride a bike builds confidence, increases health and happiness, expands opportunities, and brings people together. Learning to ride a bike is not only a rite of passage, but a life skill that children can benefit from forever.

 

 What is a typical day in the life look like at your business / brand?

The All Kids Bike team is small, but mighty! School communication is constant. Whether a school has already received the program or is working hard to do so, we build relationships to support them wherever they are on their two-wheel journey.

We also have many generous donors and are always working to find more passionate people to join our mission and bring bikes to schools that are close to their hearts. Donors can be individuals, businesses, or organizations who align with our mission, and we’re always eager to connect with them and share our joy for kids on bikes!

Communication and making these connections are vital in reaching our goal of teaching more children how to ride. It really does take a village, which is why our relationships are so important to us.

There are a lot of logistics that go into delivering a whole fleet of bikes, pedals, helmets, and curriculum to a school. From making sure everything gets there at the right time, to supporting the build and delivery, there are many details that go into making the delivery special for the kiddos.

 We love to celebrate schools reaching their fundraising goals, bike deliveries, new pedalers, and happy kids! We work hard to spread the word and share the excitement with those who share our vision through social media, blogs, press, and advertising our mission.

What are your goals and future-plans for your business/brand?

All Kids Bike is growing quicker than ever. Who doesn’t want to see more kids on bikes? We’re working hard to keep up with the demand for the program.

We’re having conversations with passionate donors to move schools off our waitlist (a list of schools seeking funding for the program). We’re also building an incredible roster of National Ambassadors to help spread the word about All Kids Bike and engage various industries.

We’re educating teachers across the nation on the program, so they feel confident bringing the joy of two wheels to their schools. We are also adding additional Learn-To-Ride Program offerings to reach more kids and enhance the skills of Kindergarten PE Program graduates with STEM, Traffic Safety, and more. These small steps move us closer to our main goal, which is to teach every child in America how to ride a bike.

 

 How do you currently see the kids cycling scene?

Kids aren’t learning to ride due to various barriers; it could be an economic, regional, or time constraint for families, but there has been a shocking decline in youth ridership in the last decade. Unexpectedly, throughout the pandemic, cycling has become much more prominent.

More families are seeing the importance of getting children outside and active, and a bike is one of the best ways to do that. Additionally, we’re seeing many urban areas fighting for proper infrastructure to make cycling a safe option for transportation which contributes to eliminating some of the barriers.

By teaching this life skill in kindergarten, we can offer an opportunity to all children, which they can enjoy with their families, friends, or take advantage of the many bike-friendly spaces being invested in locally.

What impact would you like to make on kids cycling, and how do you see the future?

 All Kids Bike would like to make learning to ride a bike a standard for every child. We confidently believe in the importance of Riding being the “Fourth R” of elementary education, along with Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. When children learn to ride in school, they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to utilize a bike in whatever adventures they choose. In the future, we hope kids will return to biking as a form of transportation, freedom, and fun.

 

Where do you take your inspiration from? Who inspires you in the industry?

 Our inspiration comes from our love and passion for two wheels. We know what cycling has done for us and want to share that with children all over the country. Strider Bikes is a huge inspiration in the industry. They are teaching children to ride earlier than ever, and we want to be the net that catches all the kids who do not have that opportunity. The launch of the revolutionary Strider 14x Sport in October of 2017 was perfect for what we were trying to accomplish, as it converts from balance to pedal bike when the rider is ready.

What goes into the research when developing your new products / service?

There are many school learning standards we must integrate into our curriculum to stay current with school needs. We strive to have simple curriculum for teachers to learn and teach as part of their annual PE curriculum that provides the most successful results and aligns with their required standards.

After a few years of running the program, we worked with Strider Bikes to create an AKB-specific Strider 14x that is designed with teachers and classrooms in mind. Strider made various minor changes based on teacher feedback to make the bike more user-friendly and easily adjustable. It is also branded as All Kids Bike and is only offered as part of the All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program. We might be bias, but we sure do love the green and white design!

How can people find out more about your work and your brand/business?

 More information can be found on our website, www.AllKidsBike.org, by emailing info@allkidsbike.org, or following us on social media @allkidsbike.

 

 

Want to connect with other Little Rider families?

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Let’s Ride!