Families in Joplin, Missouri, learned about safe bike and sidewalk transportation on Thursday at West Central Elementary School. Bike Walk Joplin organized the Bike and Walk to School Event, and the Alliance of Southwest Missouri created a miniature, interactive Safety Town. School-age children learned about the correct hand signals, helmet safety, and how to stop and go correctly at stop signs and railroad crossings.
The event was the first of its kind in Southwest Missouri.
Jen Black with the Alliance of Southwest Missouri says the experience teaches school-age children fun and safe ways to travel to school.
"We want kids to be safe. We want to prevent injury or harm. And this is very preventable if they understand the rules of the road," added Black.
The three-hour event included presentations for parents and a raffle for prizes. One of the presenters was Sam Balto, the teacher from Portland, Oregon, known for his viral TikTok videos about his Bike Bus, which aims to get his students active and moving.
Shawn Hall with Bike Walk Joplin said there are significant health outcomes for children who bike or walk to school.
"Children who bike or walk to school, whether by bike, bus, or on their own, have better learning outcomes because they've burnt off a little bit of energy. There's a strong mind-body connection to learning, so we encourage children to be physically active," added Hall.
Bike Walk Joplin's long-standing mission to improve active transportation opportunities, according to board member Christina Williams.
"That might include advocating for safer on-street infrastructure, improved sidewalks, bike lanes, intersections, things like that," explained Williams.
The event is a week after the Joplin Area Transportation Survey Organization and design firm Olsson presented their recommendations for the city's updated Metropolitan Transportation Plan during an open house. The plans could include features such as updated sidewalks, roads, and bike paths.
Hall thinks the city of Joplin is on the right track when it comes to updating the transportation plan. He says there's a long process to return to a time when cars were not the primary mode of transportation.
"We're not trying to replace cars, but we are trying to encourage people to get out there and bike and walk and for the city and the surrounding area to provide safe venues and infrastructure," Hall said.
The event gave out bike locks as part of their raffle prizes. They did not give away free helmets or bikes, but they could provide parents with information on places to buy bikes if needed.
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