Physical Education (PE) Programs

Looking for info on YBike's Bicycling & Bicycle Safety Unit for Physical Education (PE) classes? 

Get our info packet here.  Get information about our Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Education program curriculum for Physical Education (PE) classes on our curriculum page.

After going for decades without it, bicycling and bicycle safety education returned to Physical Education (PE) classes in the San Francisco Unified School District in the 2007-08 school year, when the Presidio Community YMCA Bicycle Program partnered with Lowell High School to offer one 2-week bicycling and bicycle safety unit in Terence Doherty’s Physical Education class. We provided all necessary equipment, including bicycles and helmets, as well as certified bicycling instructors to lead the class along with the PE teacher.

"The Biking unit was by far the most fun of the semester," said Amanda L., one of the participants. "I enjoyed the thrill of getting on a bike after 8 years of not touching one."   "All schools in San Francisco should provide biking as a class and encourage people to get involved in this fun sport," said Rachel C.  "Hopefully more people would consider riding a bike to and from places."  See more of what Lowell students participating in our pilot program had to say below.

Building on our experience at Lowell High School, the Presidio Community YMCA Bicycle Program brought our successful PE program to 2 middle schools in the spring of 2009.  We piloted our first bicycling and bicycle safety class at the middle-school level at Francisco Middle School in April, 2009, working with one PE teacher to serve 2 PE classes of 6th- and 7th-graders, serving a total of 55 students.  In May, we brought our PE program to Marina Middle School, working with 2 PE teachers to serve 2 PE classes of 60 students total.  Students in the Marina PE program improved their knowledge of bicycle traffic and safety skills by an average of 40%.

In the fall of 2009, we once again served Lowell High School and Marina Middle School.  Both schools have become strong supporters of bicycle PE and have purchased their own bikes to help run the program themselves!

Recent YBike Programs in Physical Education (PE) classes:

February, 2010: James Lick Middle School

In February, for the first time ever, YBike hosted a PE program at James Lick Middle School!  Sixty students in two classes of 6th and 7th graders successfully completed the James Lick Bicycle Safety PE pilot program with 15 new learners.  

November, 2009: Lowell High School

YBike was back at Lowell for the 4th time this November, serving 73 students in 2 PE classes of 20 9th-graders , 36 10th-graders, & 17 12th-graders.  There were 10 new learners (14%) in this group. 

October, 2009: Marina Middle School

YBike returned to Marina Middle School for our second Bicycle and Bicycle Safety Unit in Marina physical education classes in October.  We served 65 students in 2 classes of 6th- and 7th-graders.  There were 15 new learners.  After just 2 programs at Marina, Marina PE teachers are solidly behind this program, so much so that they are purchasing bikes to be able to run it themselves!

 

May, 2009: Marina Middle School

YBike's 2nd pilot Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Unit at the middle school level took place at Marina Middle School over 2 beautifully sunny weeks in May, 2009.  We served 60 happy students in 2 PE classes, with almost 20 new learners.

April, 2009: Francisco Middle School

Francisco Middle School was the lucky school chosen for YBike's 1st middle-school Bicycling & Bicycle Safety Unit.  YBike worked with 1 Francisco PE teacher to deliver our program to 65 6th- and 7th-graders.

March, 2009: Lowell High School

YBike returned to Lowell for our second time this school year, working with a third PE teacher to deliver our Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Unit to 120 students in 4 PE classes of 9th- and 10th-graders.  Just over 20 students were new learners.

November, 2008: Lowell High School

YBike's pilot Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Unit returned to Lowell in November, 2008.  We worked with a new PE teacher to deliver our Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Unit to 140 students in 4 PE classes of 9th- and 10th-graders.  Some 25 students were new learners.

May, 2008: Lowell High School

This was YBike's pilot Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Unit, returning bicycle safety education to the San Francisco Unified School District after an absence of 30+ years.  Terence Doherty, a Lowell PE teacher, approached the YBike program in early spring of 2008 about collaborating on a bicycle PE unit.  At the time, YBike was gearing up to pilot Bicycling and Bicycle Safety Units in middle school PE classes, as part of our Bicycle Safety Education Project, a partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, with funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  With a motivated teacher at Lowell, however, we decided to pilot our first class at the high school level instead.  We worked with one of Mr. Doherty's PE classes, serving 35 9th and 10th graders.  Here's what some participating students had to say about the class:

After two weeks of biking with the class, I would consider getting a bicycle of my own and taking it out for a ride with friends and family.  Being active gives me the opportunity to stay fit and enjoy the whole experience at the same time.  I have biked on small occasions before this program, but now that I have biked on longer routes, I feel more comfortable.  Now instead of taking the bus or being driven places, I could easily take a bike.  I am glad I was apart of this experience because I probably would not have picked up a bike anytime soon.  This also gives me new plans for summer.  All schools in San Francisco should provide biking as a class and encourage people to get involved in this fun sport.  Hopefully more people would consider riding a bike to and from places.   –Rachel C

The Biking unit was by far the most fun of the semester.  I enjoyed the thrill of getting on a bike after 8 years of not touching one.  Biking around Lake Merced provided me stress relief and friendship-bonding time.  Biking has also helped me get in shape.  When I felt the burn of my thigh and calf muscles, I knew that I was getting an efficient workout.  The biking unit has made me more aware of the usefulness of using a bike as a means of transportation.  With gas prices as high as $4 a gallon, traveling via bike is a cheaper way to move around the city.  Bikes also do not cause pollution or traffic jams.  I am thankful to have been able to participate in this fun and educational biking unit.  –Amanda L.

The biking unit was probably my favorite unit out of all the units I’ve had the past two years at Lowell.  The YMCA program taught the class how to bike on the streets, abiding by the traffic rules.  I learned how to signal and read bike signs on the road.  Most importantly, however, I learned that car drivers need to pay more attention to bikers and allow them full access of lanes.  As a result of this program, I can now travel by bike to a lot more places, while feeling more confident.  That week of biking increased my fitness levels and I felt great when I would get leg cramps during swim practices later because I knew that meant I worked hard.  The two weeks of biking were so enjoyable that the weekend right after, I decided to take my bike out of inactivity to try applying my “bikers’ ed” skills on the road.  During summer vacation, I hope to bike a lot more with my friends.  As a result of this program, I even intend to participate in my first triathlon in August.   –Kevin L.

I think the bicycle unit of PE was very educational in both how to manage bikes, and why they are a good alternative to other modes of transportation.  We learned a lot about the different laws that both cars and bikers need to go by in order to keep the streets safe for riders and pedestrians, as well as different routes around school and to distinguish between difficult roads to ride on and easier ones.  I believe that it is a good idea to teach students who aren’t already aware of how to ride a bike to do so, because it opens up a whole new window of opportunities for them, and it is a good way to help save the environment and exercise at the same time.  You may get places faster taking public transportation, but it can be more fun to take a bike and get some fresh air.  –Allison M.