About the Author: Yuri Hauswald is Community Relations Manager at GU Energy Labs, and he is also an endurance cyclists with many titles to his name, including the 2015 Dirty Kanza 200.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were on to something when they wrote their famous song “Teach Your Children”, which contains the iconic lyric: “teach your children well.” Graham Nash wrote this song in response to certain societal messages that were being conveyed to children in the early 70s. Speaking of messages, particularly those directed at children, here at GU we take physical activity, and the promotion of it, seriously. That’s why I had the opportunity to attended La Tercera Elementary School’s annual Bike Rodeo last week.
As a former teacher (I taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades for 12 years), sending the right message to kids is near and dear to my heart, especially when it involves a sport that has brought so much to my life: cycling. Encouraging kids to ride their bikes to school, and teaching them how to ride safely, has been a passion of mine for over 18 years. That’s why I was so excited to be a part of this year’s rodeo.
I always begin any Bike Rodeo with a discussion about their most important piece of equipment, their helmet, and how to wear it properly. I then give tips on how to say safe and visible on their ride to and from school by encouraging things like: 1) wearing bright clothing, 2) following the rules of the road, and 3) using hand signals to let cars know where they are going.
Teaching kids how to ride safely to school, and encouraging physical activity in general, is a message that we feel strongly about here at GU.
Here’s to encouraging physical activity and getting #morekidsonbikes.