Kids on Bikes helps get children, families rolling

Families brought their bikes to America the Beautiful Park on a sunny Sunday morning to take part in a weekly summer ritual.

“It just makes sense to connect kids and families through bikes,” Nikki McComsey said. “Cities just need one organization to make it happen.”

In Colorado Springs, Kids on Bikes fills that role — and the nonprofit is looking to expand in the coming year according to McComsey, the executive director.

Kids on Bikes hosted Sunday’s ride to North Monument Valley Park, where kids learned safety skills and completed tests such as controlling their bikes while riding through grass and gravel.

“It’s good for them to bike with other kids,” said Ranie Blees, who brought her daughter Lila. “It’s another biking experience as opposed to the family experience.”

Since 2005 Kids on Bikes has given away about 850 bikes, as well as helmets and locks, to students who earned them as part of after-school programs at Bristol, Stratmoor Hills and Sand Creek elementary schools as well as Atlas Preparatory School — all of which have at least 75 percent who qualify for free and reduced lunch, according to McComsey.

In the coming year, the nonprofit plans to launch a new program at Hillside Community Center, where it hopes to give away 80 bikes. Kids on Bikes also is looking to expand to Denver and offer summer bike rides there.

Kids on Bikes will organize the third annual Summer Festival and Adventure Duathlon on Aug. 26 in America the Beautiful Park. The duathlon will feature three levels, all with obstacle courses: Kids ages 2 to 6 will bike and run around America the Beautiful Park, those up to 12 years old will ride to North Monument Valley Park and competitors who are 10 or older can opt to compete in a 10-mile course to Goose Gossage Park.