Students at six Fort Wayne Community Schools elementary schools will participate in National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 3. Students at Bloomingdale, Brentwood, Franke Park, Price, St. Joseph Central and Weisser Park will have the opportunity to ride their bikes to school, demonstrating bike safety and learning how to ride together.
Fort Wayne Community Schools is partnering with the Fort Wayne Police Department and Parkview Trauma to make sure Weisser Park students are ready to celebrate Bike to School Day. On Friday, April 28, Bike Patrol Officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department will talk to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Weisser Park about bike safety. Parkview Trauma will also provide and fit helmets to students participating in Bike to School Day. Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of bicycle-related head injury by about 80 percent, but most bike riders do not wear helmets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Saturday, April 29, Franke Park will hold its first Bike Day event for Franke Park Elementary and Northwood Middle School families. The event includes opportunities to try mountain biking and BMX riding, participate in a family bike ride with Fort Wayne Trails, bike tune-ups from Heart of the City and giveaways and snacks from several local community partners.
These events precede National Bike to School Day on May 3. That day, Weisser Park students who walk or ride their bikes to school will be joined by Fort Wayne Police Bike Patrol Officers, FWCS officials, representatives from the Allen County Active Transportation Coalition and others to promote safely riding and walking to school. In addition, students at Bloomingdale, Brentwood, Franke Park, Price and St. Joseph Central will also be able to ride a safe route to school with staff and community partners.
In addition to teaching students how to travel safely and the importance of wearing a helmet, the event is also designed to build awareness in the community that there are many children who walk and bike to school, and adult drivers must be aware and patient as students make their way to and from school.
