Menlo Park schools teach students biking safety

Published on November 06, 2024

Over the last years, a few elementary schools in Menlo Park have included in their school calendar an annual bike rodeo organized by parent volunteers and school staff, including at Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll Elementary Schools.

The schools’ bike rodeos target specific grades and over a full day, the students meet at the school playground with their bike and helmet to go over safety tips and practice their biking skills in a safe environment. Each school customizes their bike rodeo. Encinal Elementary, for example, ends each bike skills session with a short group bike ride in the Felton Gables neighborhood.

Another example is Laurel School, developed a guidebook to help volunteers facilitate a bike rodeo, including the supplies needed, an overview of the event, activity ideas (e.g., slow race/fast start, navigating intersections) and a suggested schedule for each activity. Parent volunteers also created cardboard cars to add obstacles in the bike courses.

Learn more on biking and walking rodeos.