local Students earning Bikes Through Statewide Safety Program
PULLMAN, WA - Students across the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and Palouse region are gearing up for more cycling thanks to a statewide program offering bikes and thorough safety education. The School-Based Bicycle Safety Education program, brought to the area by 3Forks Bike shop owner Scott McBeath, aims to cultivate a new generation of confident cyclists.
McBeath, a passionate advocate for cycling, initiated the program locally, offering opportunities for students in grades six through twelve to earn a bicycle and essential equipment. “There’s nothing I love more than teaching kids how to ride a bike,” he said.
Currently, approximately a dozen Lincoln Middle School students in Clarkston are working towards earning their own rides. 3Forks has already visited schools in Pullman and Garfield/Palouse this year, with plans to resume the program this spring. The shop is one of 14 youth development partners across Washington offering the program.
Funded by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act and administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, the program utilizes a curriculum developed by the Cascade Bicycle Club. Participants complete 20 hours of instruction over ten two-hour sessions, held twice a week. Upon completion, students receive a high-quality bike, helmet, lock, and lights.
The all-encompassing curriculum covers vital bike ownership skills,including proper helmet use,trail etiquette,safe passing of pedestrians and cyclists,turn signals,and rules of the road. McBeath explained the program’s goal is to “create a new generation of cyclists who would rather ride than drive by instilling confidence early on.”
Launched in 2023-24, the program aims to serve 10,000 youth throughout Washington state over the next 14 years. While the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley is the final stop for 2025, McBeath anticipates restarting the program this spring for interested students.
