Maryland Groups Try To Get More Kids On Bicycles

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The CDC says in the past 40 years, the number of children riding bikes or walking to school has dropped by 35%.

Mike Schuh reports two groups are trying to get more kids on two wheels.

Two kids rode their bikes to school in Glen Burnie. The principal says more will ride once the weather breaks.

Lilly Masias lives close enough to bike to school but isn't allowed it.

"My parents don't want me to," she said. "Safety reasons."

That's perfectly understandable. A lot of parents feel the same way.

"The culture has shifted to a car culture," said Bike Maryland's Brian Kopp.

Kopp is here to help. He brought with him Steve Miller with Bike Annaplis Anne Arundel. Together they're going to teach 5,000 kids in Anne Arundel the eight big bike safety rules.

"So we teach them eight rules of the road and we believe that if they practice these rules when riding their bicycles that they'll be more safe, that there will be fewer crashes," Miller said.

Better trained cyclists are more confident cyclists. By being better trained, it's hoped they'll put in more miles.

"The work we're doing in Anne Arundel County is laying the foundation to be able to spread bike education to every school system in the state of Maryland," said Kopp.

They're also offering the program in Howard County and looking to expand it to other counties in our area.

Bike Maryland is in discussions with Baltimore City and Baltimore County to bring the bike rodeo to their schools.