Good evening,
Just a few words before I nip off for a well-deserved good nite's sleep. Completed the first day of classes at North Middle School in Martinsburg. This was my first middle school experience, and it went well overall. Taught 2 kids who have never been able to ride before. The rest had varying levels of interest, I've been told that this is a difficult age to engage - but that's my challenge. I'll let you know how it goes. I continue to be amazed by how sparse the knowledge is about the basics of biking and walking safely. After kids learn to balance a bike their education seems to end - until now. So it looks like we'll have plenty of work for a while.
Special thanks to Shelly Ostrowski who invited us here, and Tim Hott who is putting me up while I work (so called). Also thanks to Brian Weber at Eastern Panhandle Bikes who has donated a beach cruiser for us to test market on the kids. Pictures tomorrow after we get things sorted out a little better.
My expenses and charges are being paid by a $75,000 Safe Routes to Schools grant that also constructed new sidewalks in front of the school - in an area that is otherwise almost devoid of bike/pedestrian amenities. This could be the start of something big. There is a large residential area around the school and nearly all of the kids have learned to ride bikes. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that gets them doing it daily. So far only 1-2 students ride (out of a population of 600).
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