Physical education classes at Rover Elementary School have taken an exciting turn with the introduction of balance bikes for kindergarten students, thanks to PE coach Lance Dunlop. His commitment to enhancing student experiences led to the school acquiring these bikes through the All Kids Bike initiative.
All Kids Bike, an ambitious program launched by the Strider Education Foundation in 2018, aims to teach every child in America how to ride a bike by the time they finish kindergarten. The foundation, a nonprofit based in South Dakota, initiated the program in schools in 2020 and has since expanded its reach significantly.
Since its inception, the program has grown from reaching 230,000 children in 38 states to impacting nearly 1,700 schools nationwide. Currently, over 160,000 children are participating in the program, learning the essential skills of balance and coordination.
Lance Dunlop had already introduced donor bikes to his kindergarteners in November 2024, even before formally joining the All Kids Bike initiative. He remembers the children’s excitement vividly, saying, “It was right before winter break, and the kids just ate it up. We did about two and a half weeks of it and they were really excited.”
With a significant portion of Rover Elementary’s kindergarteners—approximately 75% to 80%—unfamiliar with riding bikes, these balance bikes serve as an essential tool. Unlike traditional bikes, balance bikes lack pedals, encouraging children to propel themselves with their feet, thereby honing their balancing skills and steering ability.
Dunlop has observed the positive effects of the program on his students, noting that it encourages a more active lifestyle and reduces their dependence on digital devices. “The digital age is here and kids are more concerned about their screen time than they are getting outside and riding around,” Dunlop commented.
According to Nichole Buchholz, public relations manager for All Kids Bike, the bikes act as the children’s “first vehicle,” providing them with a newfound sense of independence and confidence. “We hear nothing but positive things from our PE teachers about how easy it was to implement, how much the kids enjoy it and how far they’ve come, from being uncomfortable on the bikes to being master balancers and peddlers,” she noted.
The program’s goal is to expand its reach to 5,000 schools within the next five years. In Arizona alone, 34 programs are actively teaching about 3,400 children to ride bikes annually. Schools often independently discover the program, although donors like the HDR Foundation also play a key role in selecting participating schools. The foundation supports initiatives in education, health, and environmental stewardship.
Corporate donors, numbering over 15, provide essential support for the program’s curriculum and equipment. The bikes, with their airless tires, are designed to be low-maintenance, boasting a projected lifespan of 10 years. “Our bikes have airless tires so that the teachers don’t have to worry about airing up those tires every class period or once a week,” Buchholz explained.
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