New Education Initiative: Launching Youth Learn to Ride

Do you remember when you first learned to ride a bike? Think about it – that first time you felt the wind in your hair as your heart raced from the thrill of being self-propelled. It’s easy even to forget the sting of the asphalt when you took your first tumble, those memories washed away by the wave of joy of dusting yourself off and hopping back on your bicycle to try again. For young people, learning to ride a bike marks a brand-new era of autonomy, freedom, and independence. This pivotal experience is one the League is striving to make universally accessible. In pursuit of that goal, we’re thrilled to announce our new initiative in partnership with woom™: the first-ever national Youth Learn to Ride curriculum!

Available in both English and Spanish, the Youth Learn to Ride curriculum consists of three components:

• An Instructor Manual for League Cycling Instructors 
• A printable resource for parents/caregivers to teach new riders at home
• A step-by-step video for visual instruction and an enhanced learning experience

Whether students are wobbling on a balance bike or taking turns with ease, this youth cycling education program will serve as a comprehensive resource by offering structured lessons for children of all ages and skill levels. The manual offers modules on a range of topics including balancing, steering and braking, and finally, pedaling. Parents and caregivers can watch an instructional video and download a handout to guide their at-home teaching through our Learning Center. It’s free, easy to sign up, and available 24/7!

“Ensuring people, especially young people, have access to bicycling education is integral to building a Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The League is thrilled to partner with woom to further our shared mission of equipping every child with the knowledge of how to ride a bike. Together, we have been able to create educational resources and a curriculum that champions children’s cycling.”

This initiative promotes cycling education and safety for children across the United States. It’s a direct effort towards one of the League’s strategic goals to empower more people through education to be safer, more comfortable, and more confident to bike. We believe all youth should receive on-bike education, particularly in schools, and are proud to provide this new comprehensive curriculum. This goal is only accomplished with a collaborative network of changemakers, and we’re grateful for partners like woom™ whose support makes this initiative possible. We also want to thank our friends at Bike New York for their contribution to Youth Learn to Ride’s curriculum and materials. 

“We are dedicated to empowering young riders and instilling a lifelong passion for cycling,” said April Obersteller, woom Managing Director of North America. “With our goal of building kids’ confidence on two wheels, we are proud to partner with the League, an organization that shares our mission and is committed to helping the next generation of cyclists to ride confidently and responsibly.”

We can’t wait to see how this new resource will help expand access to bike education across the nation. Looking for a copy? You can purchase instructor manuals in our store. Parents and caregivers can download our handout with simple steps to get your child rolling in our Learning Center.