Submitted Photo Gov. Doug Burgum, left, joins a group of children in trying out the new bikes with the All Kids Bikes Learn-to-Ride Physical Education Program Wednesday.

A new program is providing every elementary school in the Minot Public Schools district with enough bikes for a class of kindergarteners, as well as a bike for the instructor.

Minot schools are among 299 public and nonpublic elementary schools in North Dakota participating in the All Kids Bike’s Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE (Physical Education) Program. The office of Gov. Doug Burgum stated the program will give a projected 9,000 students the opportunity to learn to ride a bicycle in the 2023-24 school year. North Dakota is the first state to provide statewide programming.

All Kids Bike is a nonprofit organization equipping schools with everything needed to teach children to ride a bike. The organization was awarded nearly $1.57 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund to bring its Learn-to-Ride PE Program to elementary schools throughout the state. The governor’s office is working to secure additional funding needed to ensure the program is available to kindergarteners statewide.

According to Disa Julius, P.E. teacher at John Hoeven Elementary School, Principal John Alstad reached out to All Kids Bike and got the ball rolling.

“We just had to make sure there was enough space in our storage to store them. Once that got approved by every school, we took an online training course, and the bikes started showing up,” Julius said. “There’s a lot of kids out there who don’t have bikes, and this is an opportunity to sit on a bike, work on balance and teach kids that you don’t need training wheels.”

The strider bike works on balance first, then the students move on to practicing braking. After going through five lessons, they put on the bike pedals.

“Every kindergartener is going to learn it, and we’re looking to move it into first and second grade as well soon,” Julius said.

Julius said at John Hoeven there are already enough bikes for every child in a kindergarten class. The strider bikes can be used inside the gym or outside. Every child also will learn how to put on a helmet.

Each All Kids Bike Kindergarten Learn-to-Ride PE Program is comprised of a fleet of 24 Strider bikes, pedal conversion kits, helmets, a teacher instruction bike, rolling metal bike storage racks, curriculum aligned with national SHAPE PE standards, teacher training and organizational support from All Kids Bike for as long as a school operates the program. Each fleet of bikes has at least a decade-long lifespan.

Area school districts with elementaries participating in the program include Bottineau, Burlington, Garrison and Tioga.

Lisa Weyer, executive director of Strider Education Foundation, the nonprofit that operates All Kids Bike, expressed the importance of learning to ride a bike.

“I firmly believe that introducing bike riding to schools is not just about physical activity,” she said. “It’s about empowering children with essential life skills. Riding a bike fosters independence, builds confidence and instills a sense of adventure. Beyond the health benefits, it cultivates a love for outdoor activities and a spirit of exploration. Through the All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE Program, we aim to provide every child with the opportunity to experience the joy and freedom that comes from pedaling their way to a brighter, healthier future.”