by Dylan Gschwind, E3 Board Member and K-8 Partnership Manager at Cascade Bicycle Club.
With spring in full bloom and the sun shining brighter, it's time to dust off those bikes and celebrate National Bike Month this May in Washington! Biking isn't just about getting from point A to B—it's a powerful tool for environmental education and youth empowerment. By choosing pedal power over motor vehicles, we can encourage young people in mitigating climate change and preserving the natural habitats that define our beloved state.
Whether it’s biking to work along the Burke-Gilman trail in Seattle or bikepacking the forest roads of the Olympic National Forest, I love exploring this beautiful state on wheels. Feeling the wind against my face and inhaling the scents of nature as I ride my bike through natural landscapes fills me with a great sense of empowerment. As a Cascade Bicycle Club employee and member, I’m excited to be part of the statewide effort to make biking more accessible and enjoyable for young people.
Cascade has been providing youth bike education through our “Let’s Go” program to Seattle and Edmonds public schools since 2016, teaching upward of 25,000 Puget Sound-area children bike and pedestrian safety skills to begin their lifelong joy of safe bicycling and walking. At the start of this school year, the “Let’s Go” program began its 16-year statewide expansion thanks to the passage of Move Ahead Washington and the creation of the School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This expansion includes the large school districts of Spokane, Tacoma, Bellingham, Highline, Everett and Vancouver, as well as 14 small school districts served by the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD). Check out the program in action at Tacoma schools.
This program is funded through the Climate Commitment Act, which supports the state’s efforts to limit carbon emissions and invest the proceeds in green climate projects. An effort to repeal the act and its carbon market is on the ballot this election year (Initiative 2117) .
For our youth, cycling offers more than just a mode of transportation—it's a catalyst for holistic development. As children hop on their bikes, they embark on adventures that nurture physical fitness, spatial awareness, and independence. Moreover, biking fosters a sense of exploration and connection with nature, encouraging environmental stewardship from a young age.
As we celebrate National Bike Month, let's amplify our efforts to promote cycling among our youth and communities. Through educational programs, bike safety workshops, and community rides, we empower young cyclists to embrace biking as a lifestyle choice—one that benefits both personal well-being and the planet. If you want to learn more about how you can get involved in National Bike Month, check out some of the resources at Cascade’s website.
