By Brenna Angel
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Elementary students in Lexington will soon have a new way to get active at school thanks to a grant from the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission. Nearly $21,000 was awarded to Fayette County Public Schools for the purchase of 70 bicycles.
Practical living specialist Betty White says a major component of the program will be learning about helmets and rules of the road.
"If you're a student who's living in an apartment, or living in some place where you can't have a bike, or your parents can't afford to get you a bike, you may not learn to ride a bike. And then when you're presented with that opportunity to ride one when you're older, you might feel embarrassed or not be able to do it. Plus they won't be able to do it safely, so let's put them in an environment where they can learn how to do it safely."
White says a P.E. teacher suggested using bicycles after learning about a similar program in Woodford County.
Grant money from the bicycle commission is generated through the "Share the Road" license plate. The commission previously awarded FCPS a $9,300 grant in 2009. That money was used to buy helmets and train teachers.
The bicycles will be stored at a district warehouse and rotated among participating elementary schools.