The YBike program at the Presidio Community YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of San Francisco, recently received funding from the California State Assembly to help spread their impact to a wider audience. Led by Matt Dove, the director of bicycle programs, the initiative plans to strengthen their services for the community and increase the amount of children who know how to ride a bicycle safely in the city.
“The mission of the YBike program is to give every young person in San Francisco the chance to learn a how to ride a bike,” said Dove. “If that’s something they’re interested in, then there are opportunities for them to do that further. All programs, activities and events we do are in service to that.”
About the Program
The YMCA took over the youth bike education program in 2005. Since then, it has spread its mission to schools and people across the city. The biggest part of their work includes visiting physical education classes to teach students how to ride. It also helps teachers establish fleets of bikes at the schools. Along with programming in schools, the Y hosts an after-school program, bike camps, and bike fairs and Learn-to-Rides on the weekends.
Another way they’re helping kids is by helping parents get involved as well. Through their Earn-A-Bike program, started during the COVID-19 pandemic, both kids and adults are given bicycles. That way, children would have an adult to ride when YBike staff couldn’t. The initiative received positive feedback and participation. Since then, it has become a part of their afterschool program, and they’ve given out approximately 60 bicycles to students and an adults every year.
“A lot of our work has been recognizing we can’t do it all,” said Dove. “Our staff has six people, which is pretty big for a bike program. But six people to teach every single young person in San Francisco how to ride a bike is wholly inadequate. We must leverage people at the Y, parents, the school district and other areas to be involved.”
Fulfilling the Mission
Though there are no concrete plans for the acquired funding yet, the ultimate goal is to increase the amount of people the program will reach. They’ll be replacing bikes and the vehicle they use to transport them.
The funding will also help YBike continue breaking social barriers by providing support and opportunities to impoverished areas of the city. The program is looking to convert a vehicle to a mobile bike repair shop to encourage cycling in neighborhoods without a bike shop. They hope to be able of train and potentially employ high school students to staff the program. Doing this would give them valuable professional skills and experience in the biking industry.
In a populous, highly urban city like San Francisco, finding a place to safely learn how to ride a bike is difficult. Giving participants the introduction and space to practice the skill encourages youth to take up cycling.
“I don’t expect every single student we work with is going to fall in love with biking forever,” said Dove. “But I want them to have a bicycle as a way to get around or do things with their friends. It’s about helping them overcome the fear of learning how to ride a bike or riding on the streets.”
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