BEAR (Bicycle Education And Registration)

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Bicycle Education and Registration (BEAR) Program is an innovative program that uses bicycle education as a foundation to create positive relationships with local at-risk youth. The BEAR Program has a variety of active components including classes for youth ages 8-18, classes for adults and an all new bicycle registration program that utilizes several search engines and digital photography enhancements. The BEAR Program accesses the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s confiscated bicycles and brings them to local youth. It offers a curriculum that consists of a five-day program covering the following topics: team building, bicycle education and repair, rules of the road, bicycle laws, helmet safety and good decision making. Upon completion of the five day course, the children are rewarded with new tires, tubes, hand grips, seats, a helmet, t-shirts, certificates and a bike that they have refurbished over the course of the program themselves. Moreover, the program stimulates a positive relationship between law enforcement and local youth.