The number of Seattle parents hauling their kids on bikes has grown steadily in recent years, and both Cascade and longtime family cycling leaders are upping their family cycling games in 2013.

Familybike Seattle is a new nonprofit formed by Morgan Scherer, who has been an inspiring and active force behind family cycling in Seattle for years. Scherer’s Family Bike Expo is a mainstay at bike events around town. Armed with many different types of family bikes (longtail Xtracycle-style bikes, Madsen bucket bikes, bikes with child seats and more), the Family Bike Expo gives people the chance to try out different options to see what would fit their lives the best.

Bike Works hired Scherer to run family cycling programs last year. Now Scherer is launching a new non-profit that will continue its work with Bike Works, but will also expand to other organizations. Details from Bike Works:

Bike Works is pleased to announce the re-launch of Familybike Seattle, a budding non-profit that will engage and support Seattle families in getting around town by bicycle.  Familybike, started by current Bike Works Family Biking Specialist, Morgan Scherer, will continue the family biking programming that was started six years ago – and was incorporated into the programming of Bike Works in the spring of 2012.

Thanks to Bike Works, Familybike has found new energy and is re-launching in April with a full suite of programs that support families in every step of their journey from curious to enthused!  Familybike will continue to have a low cost rental program for family bikes, Family Bike Expos, seminars, and community-building Kidical Mass Rides.  Some of these events will continue in tandem with Bike Works, but Familybike Seattle and Morgan will be at the helm for all of this work as it continues to grow.  We are excited to support Familybike Seattle as it takes off on its own again in the Spring of 2013 – let’s bike together!

EVENTS:
Kidical Mass.  Dates: April 13th, May 11th (Mother’s Day Ride), June TBD, July 13th

Family Bike Expos: Bike Expo, Mar 9-10; June TBD; Bike Sunday, July 7; Rainier Summer Streets, Aug 17

Family Biking Seminars : April 27, 9:30-12:30 in Rainier Beach.  Max. 8 participants, by donation $5-25

Upcoming Classes

April 27th, 9:30am – 12:30pm in Rainier Beach
Max. 8 participants, by donation $5-25

Call (206) 695-2416 or email Morgan to register or for more information.

Cascade launches family biking program

The growing interest in family cycling has not gone unnoticed by Cascade Bicycle Club, which is launching a Family Biking Program complete with classes for interested parents, and a bike “Feats-of-Skill” rodeo that sounds an awful lot like the popular Fiets of Parenthood events (see video from Seattle’s 2010 event).

Details from Cascade:

Would you like to ride with your kids? Learn what kids need to know or teach your child to ride a bike? Or would you simply like to ride with other families? Cascade’s new Family Biking Program focuses on encouraging more families and kids to ride bikes.

Wrangle the kids and roll on over to our four-part Family Biking Education Events at Magnuson Park.

All events will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays in April, June and September:

Learn 2 Ride for All Ages
Sunday, April 7
$10 per learner

Parents, assist your child in learning the basics of how to ride a bike using our tried and true method. Or, if you never learned as a child, come learn yourself.

Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups
Sunday, April 14
$20 per family

Our big bike rodeo is fun for all ages and has practical skills too! In addition to negotiating the “driveway ride out,” looking back while riding in a straight line, signaling and passing, we’ll have the “chicken dodge,” teeter-totter and flower slalom. Everybody plays – come out and show ‘em your excellent biking skills.

Family Biking Skills
Sunday, April 21
$20 per family

Teach your kids to ride on safe streets. Children and parents learn key aspects of riding bikes to school or around town. Learn how children “see” traffic and what parents need to know according to a child’s age and development level.

Family Ride

Sunday, April 28
Free!

Ride with other families, get to know one another, and have a blast!

 

Looking ahead:

June sessions

June 2: Learn 2 Ride 4 All Ages – $10 per learner
June 9:  Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups – $20 per family
June 16:  Family Biking Skills – $20 per family
June 23: Family Ride – Free!

September sessions

Sept. 8: Learn 2 Ride 4 All Ages – $10 per learner
Sept. 15: Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups – $20 per family
Sept. 22 : Family Biking Skills – $20 per family
Sept. 29 : Family Ride – Free!