Last Friday, July 28th, the Bartram’s Garden Bike Hub welcomed a group of 6-12 year olds from the Finnegan Playground Summer Camp. On one of the hottest days of the summer, we found refuge in the Bartram’s Barn where we shared the 3 B’s of Biking: Be Responsible, Be Predictable, and Be Visible. 
We reviewed a city scene identifying people who were engaging in the street safely and those doing it unsafely, sparking a conversation about how kids can ride on the sidewalk until they are 12 years old, and how it is unsafe to ride with headphones in. All of the youth received a set of bike lights (to Be Visible) and a helmet (to Be Responsible) that they enjoyed decorating with stickers. Bike Hub staff then gave personalized helmet fitting checks to each participant and cleared the youth to ride.
One group at a time walked across the meadow to the Bike Hub where all of the youth were able to find a bike just their size and traverse the traffic garden set up along the main path. Bike Hub Manager, Jack, created a course with chalk and cones with both a beginner path and a more experienced path with a lava zone where youth had to stay on a very small area to avoid the lava. The youth were excited to get on bikes and loop around the course, having fun and growing their bike handling skills.
We wrapped up in the Air Conditioned Barn with snacks and a quick debrief and invitation for all of the young people to tell their family and friends to come back to the Bartram’s Bike Hub anytime we are open on Friday’s 3-6pm and Saturdays 10-2 through the fall!
You, too, can experience the joy of biking at Bartram’s Garden.
Join us at the Bike Hub every Friday 3-6pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm.
The Bike Hub offers a rotating list of classes and rides including:
- Free Bike Rentals to use at the gardens
- Learn to Ride Classes for Kids and Adults
- Beginner Bike Rides of the Bartram Mile
- Bike Maps and Info about Bike Safety Materials in English, Spanish, Simple Chinese, Russian, Haitian Creole & Vietnamese
More info about classes and rides as well as registration are available on the Bartram’s Garden online calendar.
#Shoutout to Rec Leaders, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Kecia for coordinating the day, and Bartram’s Garden staff for supporting the planning, coordinating and ensuring we had plenty of cold water!