Revolutions Bicycle Cooperative works to get more people of all ages on bicycles. We want to help Peabody Elementary school children, and their families, use bicycles for transportation to school. We believe that riding bicycles rather than riding in cars to school will lead to healthier, more active children.
Revolutions will partner with our neighborhood school, Peabody Elementary, to train children as Bicycle Ambassadors. In our pilot year, sixteen Bicycle Ambassadors will be selected to:
The Ambassadors will:
After training, the Ambassadors will work with Revolutions to help develop, promote and assist in leading:
In order for more children to ride to school, Peabody Elementary needs better and sturdier bicycle racks:
September 2015
1st Semester, 2015
November 4 – December 20
January/February 2016
February-April 2016
April 2016
May 2016
“It has been demonstrated that physical activity in the day of a child contributes to better overall health1,2, further activity3, effective learning, and the ability to stay on task4. Walking and bicycling are good for children, yet surveys show that active transportation has become less prevalent. With the decline of bicycling and walking to school in the last few decades, many students of this generation are missing the opportunity to explore the world through diverse means. For the first time in human history, this generation may live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents.”
Students who are comfortable and adept at bicycling to school could also perform well in the Shelby County Schools’ Destination 2025 (The 80-90-100 plan:http://www.scsk12.org/uf/webadmin/foundation/2025/). The Revolutions Bicycle Ambassadors focuses on this year’s 4th and 5th graders (the classes of 2024 and 2023, respectively). The students who work to be Bicycle Ambassadors will arrive at school ready to learn thanks to their active ride to school. Arriving ready to learn results in good performance in school, at the elementary level. A solid foundation in elementary school will help children continue performing strongly throughout school. And that will allow them to “be on track to learn in a post-secondary classroom or enter the workforce straight out of high school…earn their high school diploma…(and be) college- or career-ready graduate[s] in the class of 2025 [who] will enroll in a post-secondary opportunity”
Quote in first paragraph taken from the Safe Routes to School – Bicycle Pedestrian Curricula Guide, http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Curr_Guide_2011_lo.pdf : And the studies cited are: 1 Bungum, t. l., and M. l. Vincent. “Determinants of Physical activity among female athletes.” American Journal of Preventive Med. no. 13 (1997):115–122. 2 Butcher, J. “Socialization of adolescent Girls into Physical activity.” adolescence no. 18 (1983):753–766. 3 Sirard JR, Riner Wf, McIver Kl and Pate RR. “Physical activity and active Commuting to Elementary School.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, no. 37(2005): 2062–2069. 4 Mahar M, Murphy SK, Rowe Da, Golden J, Shields at, Raedke tD. “Effects of a Classroom-Based Program on Physical activity and on-task Behavior.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, no. 38 (2006):2086-2094.