According to PeopleForBikes’ 2022 Bicycling Participation Study, the number of youth ages 3-17 who ride a bike at least once per year has steadily declined since 2016. While ridership does tend to decrease with age, this recent downturn in youth ridership is troubling. Thankfully, the nonprofit Outride is working to reverse that trend.

Outride’s Riding for Focus is a middle school rider education program that promotes bicycling as an outlet to support the social, emotional, and cognitive health of students. Through the program, schools are provided with all of the necessary equipment (including a fleet of bikes and helmets), curriculum, and teacher training to get youth riding.

Intended to be implemented during PE class time or in a structured after school setting, the Riding for Focus curriculum features 12 modules to take students from beginner to road-ready riders. Each module is aligned to national SHAPE standards, an organization that serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the United States, and includes all relevant materials and activities.

More than 350 Riding for Focus programs have been implemented in middle schools across the U.S. and Canada and benefit the lives of 50,000+ students every year.

In an effort to expand its reach with middle schools serving students from low-income and traditionally underserved backgrounds, Outride is currently accepting applications for Riding for Focus grants, which provides schools with everything they need to get students riding.

The application period for 2024 Riding for Focus grants closes on March 31, 2024.

Visit Outride’s website for more information on Riding for Focus, grant guidelines, FAQs, and to submit your application.