(05/02/2025) Madison Elementary School students are equipped for rolling to school and around the neighborhood, thanks to bike safety gear and tips shared by community partners - made possible by an event organized by the school and financial support - thanks to a grant from the Anoka Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF).
The grant enabled the school to purchase and present 100 bike helmets, 100 bike bells, and 130 bike locks to students. The event was a blend of fun and learning, with the fire department fitting helmets, which were decorated by students at a sticker decorating station; while the Blaine Police Department’s bike patrol officer demonstrated bike safety skills in the parking lot before practicing them with students.
Students were able to get their bikes in gear for the season, with bell installations, and tune-ups, including tire inflation, tightening any loose parts and inspecting chains. The event emphasized the importance of safe biking practices, particularly in school zones, allowing opportunities for students to practice stopping at stop signs, learning to look both ways before crossing roads, and being aware of their surroundings.
Madison Elementary School staff also shared the benefits of biking to school in conversations with students and their families, including improved exercise which fosters better concentration and focus at school. The initiative, championed by a paraeducator and traffic control officer, Jessie Coon, aims to make safe biking to school a reality for more students.
