Uintah Middle School has received nearly 40 new Specialized bikes and helmets through a Riding for Focus grant secured by UMS physical education teacher Christine Whetton.
Riding for Focus (R4F) is a school-based program that uses cycling as a tool to get kids moving, help increase motivation and focus, and improve student well-being. The program was developed by Outride, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling.
“It’s been challenging the past three years and youth need a safe outlet to experience freedom and joy. There’s no better way to do that than by riding bikes,” R4F program manager Lauren Freeman said. “Students need bikes now more than ever and we at Outride are committed to getting more kids on bikes.”
The R4F grant provides schools with everything needed to get 6th-8th grade students riding, including bikes, helmets, teacher training, and curriculum.
"The best part of teaching kids how to safely ride a bike is seeing every one of them succeed,” Whetton said. “Even the ones who already know how to ride learn more advanced skills that enhance their experience while riding.”
Outride’s applied research has found that 87 percent of students report having fun in Riding for Focus, even those who typically don’t like school or PE class. The program also gets new kids on bikes. On average, 10 to 20 percent of students at a school don’t know how to ride a bike before the program. By the end of R4F, students who didn’t know how to ride feel confident on a bike.
“In our P.E. class students experience the pure joy and freedom that riding a bike can offer and can turn that joy into a lifelong love for riding a bike,” Whetton said. “This gift of bikes to our school means a lot to my students and they will enjoy them for years to come."