Bike Riding Lessons Return To Glenview Schools
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One school district in the northern suburbs is helping its students reach a major milestone: learning how to ride a bike.
Glenview Public School District 34 taught bike riding about 20 years years ago, but stopped the program when it became too difficult to manage all the student's personal bicycles, according to teacher Diane Bilcer.
The Glenview Education Foundation brought back the program this spring for first and second graders, by buying 50 bikes for the kids to use.
Bilcer is also the GEF Grant Committee chair. She said they spent between $10,000 and $12,000 on the bikes, which will rotate through three schools each year.
Other groups paid for helmets and bike maintenance going forward.
An instructor said about 80 percent of the kids already know how to ride, and the others just need a little help - frequently from someone who isn't mom or dad.
The class wrapped up at one school last week. Bilcer said they've already received a glowing letter from a parent of a new bike rider.