Kids in Motion Keeps Kids in School

February 22, 2023

by Kelly McCandless

With caregivers working around a variety of schedules, buses accommodating qualifying students, and kids still needing to find a safe way to get to school, bicycles are often the best and most reliable method for families to ensure safe transport. A broken bicycle often means a major kink in a family’s plans.

Kids in Motion started in 2014 as a partnership between School District 2, the City of Billings and the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools as a program to help keep kids’ bikes safe and reliable. Thanks to a seed grant from SCL Health as well as the generosity of other donors over the years, the program has served kids for the last nine years, repairing bicycles so students can continue riding them to school.

Kids in Motion offers bicycle tune-up clinics each fall and spring at different schools throughout the district. The program is simple: kids drop their bikes off in the morning when they get to school and tell the team what is going on with it. Qualified bicycle mechanics spend the day repairing the bikes to the best of their ability. Repairs may include patching leaky tires, simply filling tires, tweaking or replacing brakes, fixing chains, and adjusting seats. Some more complicated repairs may be possible but are not guaranteed.

The mechanics inspect every bike carefully to check for other issues not reported by the student or caregiver and report anything unrepairable at the end of the school day. Kids are able to get home with a bike that is once again reliable and safe.

From the school’s side of things, the program goes further. Kids in Motion (affectionately known as KIM) notifies the schools they’re visiting ahead of time so the students and families are made aware of the opportunity. KIM sends a bike safety curriculum to the school ahead of time as well so all students can be brought up to speed on safe practices during their Health/PE classes.

Since the inception of the program, more than 1,500 bicycles have been repaired, helping students to have a reliable and safe option to get to school. The program primarily impacts elementary schools but typically visits one to two middle schools each year. Any student is welcome to bring a bike, and little siblings who aren’t in school yet may bring theirs as well.

Kids in Motion is a critical program ensuring the safety of more students, educating about safe transportation, and, oftentimes, keeping kids coming to school. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://kidsinmotionvolunt.wixsite.com/kimbillings. Spring KIM tune-up clinics will be announced soon at https://kidsinmotionvolunt.wixsite.com/kimbillings/events. Check and see if we’re coming to a school near you!

Never miss an issue, check out SLM's digital editions here!

Kelly McCandless

Kelly McCandless is a Billings native who loves a well-planned adventure, being outdoors when the weather is nice, historic fiction and hot coffee. She’s passionate about writing, cooking, education, travel and doing all of these things with her husband Ryan and their two incredible daughters

30 Ways to Mix Some Movement into Your Day

Do you find it challenging to commit to an exercise plan but want to adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep active throughout your day? Even if you only have a few minutes, try these 30 ways to squeeze in some time for movement, no matter if you’re at home, at the office, or on the go!

Teaching the Whole Child Through Social-Emotional Education

Developing skills to advocate for themselves, students benefit from Whole Child Skill Development. Teachers and schools create common language and expectations to work together toward a common mission around social-emotional learning.

Summer Safety Tips

Central Wellness offers us summer exercise safety tips, hydration how-to's, and advice on sunscreen strategies.

How to Keep Your Home Safe for Your Kids

Your home is a safe haven for your family, or at least it should be. While you may think that your home is a perfectly safe place for your kids, there are many different things that you can do to make and keep your home safe through all of your kids' ages and stages.