Children and Youth Bike Safety Classes Get an Intergalactic Twist with Empire Bikes Back

CONTACT: Kate Kelly, Kate@gomixte.com, 216-406-6484

SAN DIEGO, August 10, 2016 – On August 27, light sabers, robots and alternate universes meet bikes. The San Diego County Bike Coalition, the only countywide organization advocating for the rights of all people on bikes, has teamed up with the Southeastern Kiwanis Chapter, Urban Collaborative Project and Circulate San Diego to host its first-ever Star Wars themed bike rodeo.

The Empire Bikes Back Team of collaborating partners hope the trainings, cleverly titled The Empire Bikes Back, will encourage kids of all ages living in Southeastern San Diego to become confident and knowledgeable bike riders. The tragic number of crashes in this part of the city inspired the local organizations to co-host classes that emphasize bike-handling drills and simulation of traffic situations.

“We always urge children to ride bikes where there’s safe bike infrastructure, but that isn’t always an option — especially in the dense urban areas of Southeastern San Diego,” says the Bike Coalition’s Education Programs Manager Michelle Luellen. “We hope all children that join us for The Empire Bikes Back will roll away more confident and eager to ride their bikes and that parents will feel better about their children’s ability to ride safely on the road.”

Young bike riders are invited to gather at Morse High School in Skyline Hills from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. of Star Wars-themed fun. Experienced instructors will take over the parking lot and playground to teach fundamental skills for riding a bike in urban areas, which include the importance of seeing, being seen and following the rules of the road.

Partial funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on the event, please contact Harvey Miller at (858) 354-3590. For more information on the San Diego Bike Coalition and how it’s making San Diego County a better place to ride bikes, please visit www.sdbikecoalition.sdcbcdream.org.

San Diego Bike Coalition is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation. For more information, please visit www.sdbikecoalition.sdcbcdream.org.

Circulate San Diego is a regional nonprofit organization that advocates for excellent mobility choices and healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. For more information, please visitwww.circulatesd.org.

Urban Collaborative Project is a nonprofit organization centered around health, safety and community empowerment focused on improving the quality of life for underserved communities. For more information, please visit www.ucproject.org.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Southeastern Kiwanis meets Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center 404 Euclid Avenue, San Diego.  For more information, please visit www.kiwanis.org.