One of my favorite things about youth services is finding opportunities to connect library programming with real-world life skills.
A Bicycle Safety Program does exactly that.
It promotes healthy activity, encourages outdoor play, builds confidence, and teaches skills that can help keep children safe every time they ride. Even better, it creates a natural opportunity to partner with organizations and the community who are already doing meaningful work in this space.
My town has miles and miles of bike trails, so this program was a no-brainer. Our community is uniquely situated between Lake Michigan and two smaller inland lakes, with an extensive network of trails connecting neighborhoods, parks, and waterfronts. Biking isn’t just recreation here—it’s transportation, independence, and daily life for many families. Because of that, this program came directly from a community need. At the time I developed it, there were no other bicycle safety programs I was aware of in the area.
When I hosted this program, we partnered with Emily Hammermeister from Bike Lane Uprising to teach children about safe bicycling practices. We were also joined by a local police officer who shared additional safety tips and answered questions from participants.
Why Bicycle Safety Matters
For many children, a bicycle represents freedom. It’s often their first taste of independence and one of their favorite ways to spend time outdoors.
But many young riders have never received formal instruction on:
- Road safety
- Hand signals
- Helmet use
- Visibility
- Sharing paths and roadways
- Crossing intersections safely
Libraries are uniquely positioned to bring together community experts who can help teach these skills in an approachable, family-friendly environment.
Finding Community Partners
This program became successful because of partnerships.
Organizations focused on bicycle advocacy, transportation safety, public health, and recreation are often eager to collaborate on community education programs.
Possible partners include:
- Local bicycle advocacy organizations
- Bicycle shops
- Parks departments
- Police departments
- Community health organizations
- Safe Routes to School programs
- Cycling clubs
One of our key partners was Bike Lane Uprising, a nonprofit organization focused on making biking safer by making it easy for people to report bike lane obstructions. Their work uses community reporting and data analysis to identify problem areas, highlight trends, and advocate for safer streets.
While much of their work is data-driven, they also run a Bike Light Giveaway Program, which began around 2020 in response to increased cycling during the pandemic and a rise in unsafe nighttime riding conditions. The program helps distribute bike lights so riders can safely travel to and from their destinations after dark.
Emily Hammermeister, seen here on the left, who works with Bike Lane Uprising and manages Bike Light Giveaway Leads across the country, brought both expertise and practical, real-world safety insight to our program. As she shared, “we’re making biking safer by making it easy to report bike lane obstructions,” and that mission carried through the educational components she led with the kids.
Together with our local police officer, this partnership created a well-rounded learning experience that balanced advocacy, education, and practical safety advice.
What We Covered
Helmet Safety
Children learned:
- Why helmets matter
- How to properly fit a helmet
- When helmets should be replaced
Rules of the Road
Discussion included:
- Riding with traffic
- Following traffic signs
- Watching for vehicles and pedestrians
Hand Signals
Participants received and practiced common bicycle hand signals (download a free copy, HERE):
- Left turn
- Right turn
- Stopping
- Pass.
Visibility and Awareness
One of the most important sections of the program, supported by Emily’s expertise, focused on visibility.
Children learned:
- Use lights when riding at dusk or night
- White light on the front of the bike
- Red light on the rear
- Charge lights regularly if rechargeable
- Wear bright-colored clothing when riding in low light
- Avoid dark clothing that makes riders harder to see
- Use clear hand signals to communicate with drivers and other road users
As Emily emphasized, visibility is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe while cycling. Being seen is just as important as being able to see.
Bike Checks
Children learned the basics of making sure their bicycle is ready to ride safely, including brakes, tires, and overall condition.
Bicycle Safety Giveaways
One of the highlights of the program was providing free bicycle accessories through donations and community support. To get community members involved, I had a callout on social media with my Amazon wishlist for the program.
Items included:
Kids were excited to personalize their bikes while also improving visibility and safety.
In addition, we expanded access to basic bike security by circulating bicycle locks through the library. Patrons can request a lock at the circulation desk and receive a numbered card that corresponds to a key kept securely behind the desk. They use the lock while their bike is parked at the library, then return the card when they’re ready to leave. Staff then use the matching key to unlock the bike. It’s a simple system, but an important one in a biking community where many visitors arrive on bicycles and need a safe way to secure them while they’re inside.
Add a Creative Component
Libraries know that hands-on activities make almost any program more engaging.
We offered bike decoration supplies so participants could personalize their rides:
- Colorful reflective spoke beads (provided by Bike Lane Uprising – they have tons of fun bike accessories! Your purchase supports their mission!)
- Streamers
- Stickers
Kids love adding personality to their bicycles, and many of these additions also improve visibility.
End with a Bike Parade
The bike parade was easily the most exciting part of the afternoon.
After the safety presentation and decorating activities, participants lined up for a group ride around the block. The police helped guide us, families joined in, and staff cheered them on.
It transformed the program from a lesson into a celebration.
The parade gave children an immediate opportunity to practice what they had learned while building excitement around safe cycling. As Emily noted, getting kids outside on their bikes reinforced everything they had just learned—especially signaling, awareness, and communication in real-world conditions.
Why This Program Works
Bicycle Safety combines several things libraries do exceptionally well:
- Community partnerships
- Family engagement
- Lifelong learning
- Health and wellness
- Hands-on experiences
It also provides a meaningful service that extends beyond library walls.
Children leave with knowledge they can use immediately, families gain valuable safety information, and community organizations have an opportunity to connect with residents.
That’s a win for everyone involved.
More Resources
- NHTSA Bicycle Safety: Access official guides for proper helmet fitting, hand signals, night-riding lights, and basic maintenance.
- CDC Bicycle Safety: Review data-driven guidelines for head injury prevention and child safety.
- League of American Bicyclists: Search their directory to Find and Take a Class taught by certified instructors, whether you are an adult learning to ride in traffic or a parent teaching a child.
- Bicycle Safer Journey: Utilize interactive videos, quizzes, and discussion guides designed specifically for different age groups at the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.
- PeopleForBikes: Explore their annual City Ratings to see how safe, connected, and accessible the bike infrastructure is in your neighborhood and surrounding regions.
- Safe Kids Worldwide: Partners with 400 coalitions throughout the United States. Great for connecting with the people in your area who can help with childhood safety information or local injury prevention events.
Final Thoughts
Some of the most impactful library events aren’t always centered around books.
Sometimes they’re about helping children build confidence, develop life skills, and feel more connected to their community.
With support from partners like Bike Lane Uprising, local law enforcement, and community donors, a simple idea became a full experience that blended education, advocacy, and joy.
And watching a group of excited kids riding together, ringing their bells, and practicing their new skills out in the world?
That’s the kind of library memory that lasts.
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