Pandemic doesn't stop bike riding, nor safety lessons; BikeWalkKC, LINC find a way

BikeWalkKC teacher Mitchell “Sensei” Williams, right inset, went online to keep important bicycle safety lessons going during the pandemic with students from LINC’s Border Star Montessori School program.

Learn more about BikeWalkKC and safety education opportunities here.

The pandemic and its quarantine isn’t stopping kids from riding bikes this spring.

Nor, it turns out, does it have to stop important safety lessons.

The classes that Border Star Montessori School’s LINC program had planned with BikeWalkKC didn’t shut down in our coronavirus cocoons.

Get your LINC COVID-19 updates here.

Instead, master teacher Mitchell “Sensei” Williams gathered with his Border Star students in a virtual classroom in a series of six classes to help foster a safe riding season.

BikeWalkKC had brought its safety program to the school last semester, when it involved 15 kids pedaling around in a gymnasium while trying out new skills.

Once that became impossible for the spring session, LINC’s site coordinator Shelley Taylor-Doran corresponded with BikeWalkKC’s Jill Iwanski, who jumped at the chance to make it virtual.

“We all had a lot of fun putting it together and the kids were so engaged throughout,” Iwanski said “It was great!”

Taylor-Doran tuned into the programs, curious how the program would translate digitally.

“I enjoyed watching Sensei, whom I met during the bike program last winter, carefully explain all things relating to pedestrian and bicycle safety in such a personable way,” she said. “BikeWalkKC is a great organization and I really appreciate what they do for kids.”

BikeWalkKC provides a wide menu of resources to promote safe transportation and recreation, including an education page where groups can request a class.