OTHELLO — May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and Wahitis Elementary is taking part in a big way. This week, third through fifth graders are learning real-world bike safety skills through a new Educational Service District (ESD) 123 program.
The Let’s Go Bicycle Education Program is a partnership between the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and Washington’s nine regional educational service districts. It gives schools bikes, helmets, and a ready-to-use curriculum to help students in grades 3–8 learn safe cycling basics. The Move Ahead Washington initiative directed WSDOT to create a statewide bicycle safety program for schools. The state funds it through the Climate Commitment Act. “It’s supposed to be a 16-year grant,” said Jen Frank, ESD 123 Bicycle Education Regional Coordinator. WSDOT distributes the funding.
The Cascade Bicycle Club’s website says the program helps kids become confident and safe bicyclists while promoting active travel. With Climate Commitment Act funding, there’s also hope that some students may one day ride bikes instead of driving, which would reduce carbon emissions.
Regional ESDs run the program by offering it to schools in their area. This year is ESD 123’s first run, with eight schools joining. Frank hopes to grow the program next year, possibly adding middle schools. “Ideally, by 2039, the goal is to have 90 percent of public schools involved,” she said. In Othello, only Wahitis Elementary participated this year. A middle school version could launch in 2025–26, adding bike maintenance and advanced riding skills.
Beyond environmental goals, the program helps kids become safe cyclists. “We’ve found that about 20 percent of kids don’t know how to ride bikes,” Frank said. “This helps them stay safe on the road.” The Cascade Bicycle Club designed the curriculum to identify which students can already ride. It then teaches basic balance skills like the “swan swim” and “donkey kick.” “Once they have those down, we move to the power pedal, and kids who already know how to ride start pedaling,” Frank explained.
Students also learn how to ride safely around cars. “We teach road rules, how to be predictable, and how to use hand signals,” Frank said.
ESD 123 owns 26 Haro bikes, a few Strider bikes for beginners, and even an adaptive trike for students with mobility challenges. A trailer with the Let’s Go logo transports the bikes from school to school. “We’re still learning this year,” Frank said. “We hope to improve the number and types of bikes we provide.”
Watch: A bike’s-eye view of Wahitis’ bicycle safety course
Wahitis P.E. teacher Ellen Wiseman believes this type of program belongs in every school. “It gives every child access to an important life skill,” she said. “And it’s not just about riding. Students also learn how to wear helmets correctly, use hand signals, and stay alert in traffic.” Wiseman looks forward to continuing the program. “Wahitis will definitely be on board. Our students loved it and were always excited for bike days,” she said.
The students agreed. Fourth grader Janeyiah Ayala already knew how to ride but said, “It was really fun and good for people to learn if they don’t know how.”
Third grader Samantha Johnson added, “I think learning to ride a bike is worth it.” Johnson said that every school should have a bicycle training course.
Other partners in the Let’s Go program include the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Association of Educational Service Districts.
