July 10, 2024 -New cyclists will be on the road after graduating the City of Decatur’s first Learn & Earn a Bike Program.
The cyclists, all Boys & Girls Club of Decatur summer camp kids, participated in a four-week Learn & Earn program, meeting twice a week to learn how to ride a bike safely and how to maintain a bike. The class was instructed by members of the Decatur Bicycle Club. Other partners include Hope Academy and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The kids showed off their skills during a community ride alongside Decatur Police bicyclists and other community cyclists. The riders were escorted by Police, riding along Jasper Street from Hope Academy to Johns Hill Park and back. Following the ride, a graduation ceremony was held and participants received a certificate of completion, their earned bicycle and helmet provided by the Decatur Bicycle Shoppe, along with a bike lock.
“Enabling kids to bike safely in their neighborhoods is one of the strategies for improving safe transportation as part of our Jasper Street Great Streets Great Neighborhoods initiative,” said City Economic & Community Development Director Cordaryl “Pat” Patrick. “We have a dedicated hike/bike path coming to Jasper Street so it’s important that we start spark interest in – and create a culture of – cycling in this corridor.”
The Learn & Earn a Bike program is an initiative from the City of Decatur Jasper Street Great Streets Great Neighborhoods roadmap. This project was led by the Jasper Street Bike Committee. The program was funded in part by the USDOT’s Thriving Communities Program.
