With a mission to teach every child in America to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class, All Kids Bike—a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit—is bringing its Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program to Verner Elementary School and Duquesne K-8 School thanks to a generous donation from Bayer.
“Teaching kids to ride a bike not only supports their physical and mental well-being, but also builds a lifelong skill that can positively impact confidence and classroom success,” said Lisa Weyer, executive director of the Strider Education Foundation. “Together with Bayer, we’re proud to help create lasting, positive change in communities by empowering children through the joy and freedom of riding a bike.”
The ready-to-teach program includes teacher training and certification, comprehensive 8 lesson curriculum with lesson plans, games and activities, a fleet of 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, pedal conversion kits, fully adjustable student helmets, an instructor bike with pedal conversion kit and helmet, two rolling storage racks, and access to a resource portal with live support for the life of the program. Each school celebrated the introduction of the program with a kickoff event alongside Bayer attendees, who had the opportunity to build the bikes for the program beforehand.
“Thriving communities are the cornerstone of a healthy society and at Bayer, we are steadfast in our commitment to improving the lives of all individuals in line with our mission of ‘Health for All, Hunger for None,’” said Bayer in a statement. “An essential part of our culture at Bayer is to enhance the communities where we live and work, and this initiative exemplifies our dedication to finding innovative solutions help people in our communities lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program supports the development of the whole child—encouraging emotional growth, cognitive engagement, and social interaction through active, movement-based learning. By introducing biking as in-school education, the program helps build confidence, coordination, and a sense of personal achievement in young students.
At both schools, the program is expected to positively impact approximately 90 kindergarten students each year by teaching them how to ride a bike in PE class. With equipment that has an expected lifespan of 7 to 10 years, it is estimated that up to 900 students will benefit from this initiative over the next decade.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bayer for bringing the All Kids Bike program to Duquesne K–8. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone that builds confidence, independence, and joy for our youngest learners,” stated Erica Slobodnik, principal of Duquesne K-8 School. “This program gives our kindergarten students the opportunity to develop an important life skill while staying active and having fun. We can’t wait to see the pride on their faces when they ride on their own for the very first time.”
“On behalf of Verner Elementary, I would like to sincerely thank Bayer and All Kids Bike for their generous support in providing both the equipment and programming to teach our kindergarten students how to ride a bike. This initiative goes far beyond learning a skill, it builds confidence, fosters independence, and reinforces the importance of physical activity. In a close knit community like ours, where many of our students walk or ride their bikes to school, this program has a meaningful and lasting impact on our children and families. We are truly grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it brings to our youngest learners,” stated Dr. Christina Monroe, principal of Verner Elementary.
All Kids Bike is committed to helping children reach a key developmental milestone while gaining a skill that promotes lifelong fitness, independent transportation, and emotional well-being. Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of two wheels—and this partnership makes that possible.