(PORTLAND, Maine) March 20, 2020 – As the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) rapidly evolves, the need to prioritize public health and safety has resulted in sudden changes in the everyday lives of many, and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has provided a set of suggestions to help residents cope and stay active.
School closings and the Maine Center for Disease Control’s current restrictions on public gatherings means students are home and the BCM won’t be able to safely teach them the basics of biking and walking safety in person for the foreseeable future. However, the Coalition says this does not mean that the need to educate children about the best practices for safe walking and biking has gone away.
In the absence of a typical school day, the non-profit believes more children will be outside playing for a greater number of hours each day, and their families can help students meet the required education standards. For students in the Maine public school system, that means 30 minutes of physical education each day.
Exercise, fresh air, and sunshine are important to maintaining good health, and all three can help avoid cabin fever. Getting out and exercising is good advice for kids and adults alike, and a bike is the perfect solution, says the BCM.
The Coalition cautions that before students or families head out for their bike ride, they should know the basics of bike safety, and the organization has made the following relevant resources available:
Brush up on the top 4 tips for safe bike riding!
Check out the PSAs at bikemaine.org/education/resources/
Looking for kid-specific safety information?
Visit bikemaine.org/education/resources/
Need some help planning a ride?
Visit wheretoride.bikemaine.org/findaride/
Need a bike shop?
We are continuously updating our website with information about the services available at different shops around Maine.
Visit bikemaine.org/bike-shop-covid-19-statuses-updates/ or look for the link on the BCM homepage and Facebook page for details.
Need help finding additional information on biking or staying active? Please contact info@bikemaine.org