PORTFOLIO

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Helmets are required riding equipment for children.
And they come in a variety of colors, as evident in
those worn to the recent "Kids' Right to Bike"
rally at Nuuanu Elementary School.

Bike Basics

f it feels natural, so simple that the skill is never forgotten, they say it's "like riding a bike." But the trick is to get on your bike and ride the first time, and that's pretty daunting when you're still on training wheels.

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Reflectors that snap on to wheel spokes are
another important safety item.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, only 10 percent of kids today ride their bikes or walk to school, down from 60 percent a couple of decades ago. Not only are the kids not getting exercise, they're not learning proper bicycle safety skills.

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Kalani Clarke, manager of the BikeEd program on
Oahu, demonstrated riding procedures and awareness
to, from left, Nicolas Tom, Anthony Ing and Nicole
Flores during the rally.

The Hawaii Bicycling league held a "Kids' Right to Bike" rally last Sunday at Nuuanu Elementary School, and dozens of little bikers showed up to hear politicians speak - or was it because of the free T-shirts, helmets and other gifts, as well as the hands-on safety instruction from the League's "BikeEd" program?

FL MORRIS / STAR-BULLETIN
Nicholas Tom practiced his riding skills as
he negotiated a turn.

Since the program was created in 1989, BikeEd has taught bicycle safety to more than 65,000 fourth-graders on Oahu.

Information: 735-5756.

FL MORRIS / STAR-BULLETIN
Brett Shintani entered a bike pathway to Nuuanu
Elementary School off of Dowsett Avenue.

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