Yamaha gets Kindergarteners riding bikes at local schools

From Special Reports

Kids in Coweta County are learning to ride bicycles, and the folks at Yamaha are helping make it
happen.

Three elementary schools in Coweta – White Oak, Moreland and Welch – are participating in
learn-to-ride programs thanks to All Kids Bike, a national nonprofit that teaches kindergarten
students how to ride bikes during physical education classes. The program was made possible
locally by a $100,000 grant from Yamaha Motor Corp, USA via its Yamaha Outdoor Access
Initiative (OAI).

But the company’s involvement does not end there. A number of employees at the Yamaha
Motor Manufacturing facility in Newnan spent a day assembling bikes.

Armando Torres, a continuous improvement technician, was enthusiastic about the bike build.

“When we were approached to help with this specific project, I had no clue Yamaha was as
invested in the community as they are. And it does make me proud to work for a company that
actually cares about the community enough to give back.

The bikes were delivered to White Oak at a special celebration Nov. 8. The ceremony revealed
24 balance-to-pedal conversion bikes and included a first-ride opportunity for some very
excited kindergarteners.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that riding a bike is considered a developmental
milestone for a child. The All Kids Bike program, now in more than 1,000 schools across the
nation, helps students develop physically and mentally. It also gives them greater confidence,
reduces stress, and provides better focus in the classroom.

Jon Jones, the PE Teacher at White Oak agrees. “We’ve been on scooters already to teach them
spatial awareness and direction. They’ll learn balance using these bikes. It’s a lifetime activity
that they can use.”

Yamaha has funded a total of seven bike programs in Coweta County, all at Title I
schools.. Additionally, nonprofit partners in the community funded an additional three Title I
schools in the program. Many of these children come from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds, and might not be able to afford a bicycle to learn on at home.

“We are a Title I school. Some of our students are on free and reduced lunch. They come from
all different neighborhoods in our community, and they all have different needs,” says Kim
Taylor, the Principal at White Oak. “I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity with the bicycles to
learn about healthy habits, to learn about exercise, to learn about reducing stress, to learn new
skills. We have a lot of opportunities with these bikes to help our students.”

With school leaders as well as parents working to get kids to reduce their screen time and
become more active, Yamaha is a natural choice to partner on this project as the company’s
entire product line encourages outdoor recreation.

Jason Broshear, Yamaha’s Division Manager for Corporate Planning and Sustainability explains.

“I was just recently looking at all of the images of my son when he first got a balance bike and
what came to mind is the joy it brought him being out in the neighborhood, riding around and
meeting new friends. I mean, I remember, I’m sure everyone remembers their first time riding
a bike, so just to have every kid experience that feeling is truly what All Kids Bike and Yamaha
hope to provide to local communities.

“We hope that through learning to ride a bike, this provides confidence and empowerment in
enjoying the outdoors that stays with them throughout their lives. Yamaha looks forward to
having these students as our future customers, our future team members, and our future
community leaders.”