On one side of the courts are 30 children's bikes parked neatly in a row. We're going to be helping you learn how to ride your bike safely in your neighborhood. Fourth-graders are ideal BikeEd students, instructor Jeff Swafford says, because they usually know how to ride a bike and are eager to learn new skills. Organized by the Hawaii Bicycling League, the program runs throughout the school year. It has helped about 60,000 O'ahu public school children since its inception in 1989.
Schools request the week-long course, which is taught onsite.
City and state funds pay for BikeEd salaries, equipment and other operating expenses. As Maka'imoku's students stand before Clark, he notices some exposed toes. He tells the children wearing long pants to roll up the right side so it doesn't get caught in the chain. The kids suit up in the vests and helmets and find a bike the right size. There are no riding rules on the island, he says, but their bikes must stay within the painted lines.