Kindergarteners at Orange Center Elementary will learn to ride bikes thanks to a new program providing free bikes for students in need
Orlando: This week, kindergartener Eliza Falana and her classmates at Orange Center Elementary were super excited to find 24 shiny new bikes waiting for them on the basketball courts.
Orange Center is one of 37 schools across the country to receive these bikes through a program aimed at helping kids from low-income families learn to ride.
These bikes are called balance bikes, which means they don’t have pedals yet. The kids pushed themselves around the courts, getting the hang of it on their first ride.
When Eliza took a few laps, she couldn’t contain her excitement and jumped up and down, saying, “I just love riding bikes!”
The HDR Foundation funded this initiative, donating $333,000 to Strider Bikes’ All Kids Bike program. Strider Bikes provided the bikes, helmets, a bike rack, and a riding curriculum to Orange Center and other participating schools.
Jeff Arms, the area operations manager for HDR, pointed out that not every child has access to a bike at home. Some kids don’t have parents who can help them learn to ride.
All students at Orange Center are considered low-income, according to the Florida Department of Education.
On their first day, some kids struggled to balance and stay within the orange cones set up for guidance, while others zoomed around so fast that teachers had to remind them to slow down.
Nationwide, around 1,600 schools have joined Strider Bikes’ program, which aims to get kids back on bikes.
According to Nichole Buchholz from Strider Bikes, many kids today don’t get the chance to ride bikes anymore. They often choose screens over outdoor fun, and some families can’t afford bikes.
While schools can pay for the program, many rely on fundraisers or donations, like the one from HDR.
Orlando City Commissioner Shan Rose, who was present during the bike unveiling, said it’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn to ride, especially as the city aims to become more bike-friendly.
HDR, based in Nebraska, has offices nationwide, including in Orlando. The day before the bikes were revealed, HDR employees came to assemble them, and engineers will help fix any that break.
Principal Erin Albert mentioned that the school has a STEM program, so having engineers involved serves as great role models for the kids.
Eliza was thrilled to ride a bike at school. She has one at home, but it’s a noisy hand-me-down. “It squeaks so much,” she said with a laugh.
