Photo Credit: Major Taylor Kidz

Recent participation reports indicate that youth ridership is on a steady incline, a positive sign for the next generation of cyclists. In even better news, that increased participation is being met with more riding opportunities across the country from members of the Youth Cycling Coalition (YCC). The YCC is a diverse group of organizations focused on the nationwide advancement of youth bicycling. 

With the start of another school year around the corner, YCC members are excited to launch a variety of activities designed to welcome new riders and engage experienced ones. From beginner clinics and bike maintenance workshops to group rides and advocacy initiatives, these programs are building skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for cycling. As a founding member and convener of the YCC, PeopleForBikes is proud to support and amplify these efforts.

Here is your back-to-school checklist for bicycling programs near you:

Bike Buses — Rolling to School, Together

Hosted by: Bike Bus World

Bike Bus World is helping communities reimagine school commutes through safe, joyful group rides known as bike buses. By supporting families and students with the tools, resources, and guidance to organize these rides, the organization is turning the journey to school into a healthier, happier experience — for kids and neighborhoods alike.

Free Bikes — Expanding Access to the Bicycle 

Hosted by: Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K)

FB4K is ensuring that thousands of students have access to a reliable bike this school year. By collecting and refurbishing gently used bikes, the organization puts capable, high-quality bicycles into the hands of kids who need them most. With more than 200,000 bikes donated so far, FB4K is racing toward an ambitious goal: 1 million donated bikes by 2033. Volunteer, donate, or apply for a bike today. 

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day — October 4, 2025

Hosted by: International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)

Every fall, IMBA invites families and communities to celebrate Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, a national event that introduces youth to the fun of riding trails. Created in 2004 and recognized by Congress, this annual celebration has helped hundreds of thousands of young riders discover the joy of dirt, adventure, and two wheels with their local mountain bike club or trails organization. Whether you're hitting the trail for the first time or riding alongside future mountain bike racers, it’s a day to connect, explore, and get muddy.

Ready to Ride — Biking Education for Every Student

Hosted by: League of American Bicyclists

The League’s Ready to Ride campaign is working to bring high-quality bike education into school systems nationwide. With hands-on instruction, a gold-standard curriculum, and strong advocacy efforts, this initiative ensures that every student can learn to ride safely and confidently. Whether you are an educator, parent, or advocate, Ready to Ride offers ways to get involved and help bring bike education to your community.

Trailblazing Girls — Mentoring on Mountain Bikes

Hosted by: Little Bellas

Little Bellas is a nationwide mountain bike program with a goal of helping girls of all abilities reach their fullest potential. Now in its 19th year, the program fosters confidence, healthy lifestyles, and strong female mentorship. By reducing barriers and supplying gear when needed, Little Bellas is on a mission to get more girls on bikes, and keep them riding.

Getting Prepared — In a Major Way 

Hosted by: Major Taylor Kidz

Kicking off the school year with a blend of bike advocacy and community action, Major Taylor Kidz is making a big impact. Inspired by the legacy of Major Taylor, programming includes painting crosswalks, delivering helmets, and handing out hundreds of pre-filled backpacks with supplies. Empowering kids to ride safely, feel confident, and lead with pride, this movement is building bold, community-minded riders across the country.

NICA Eastern + Central Regionals — November 8–9, 2025 

Hosted by: National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)

Celebrating 100,000 student-athletes since 2009, NICA develops mountain biking programs for middle and high school students across the U.S. This fall, they’re turning up the fun with multiple regional events, connecting the NICA community and its 32 leagues with interstate racing, adventure rides, and family-friendly activities.

These weekend-long festivals celebrate the spirit of youth cycling, combining competition with clinics, trail stewardship, GRiT (Girls Riding Together) meetups, and a vibrant community expo. Whether you're a fan, volunteer, or curious newcomer, come out and experience the energy of a NICA event near you.

Bring Cycling to Your School with an Outride Grant  — Opening October 6, 2025

Hosted by: Outride

Outride’s Riding for Focus is a rider education program that uses cycling to support students’ social, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Aimed at students in grades 6 through 8, the program provides schools with everything they need to get students riding, including bikes, helmets, curriculum, teacher training, and access to an annual instructor summit.

Public middle schools that serve low-income communities are eligible to apply for a grant when the application opens on October 6. It is a powerful way to bring the joy and benefits of cycling into the classroom and beyond. Reach out to ridingforfocus@outridebike.org for more info.

Building Career Skills — Biking Meets Workforce Readiness 

Hosted by: Project Bike Tech

Project Bike Tech brings bicycle education into high school classrooms, teaching technical skills and connecting students to real-world careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and the bike industry. This fall, the program expands to new classrooms across the country—including Florida—and celebrates a major milestone: becoming an approved career pathway in Colorado with added school funding for certified students.

From hands-on learning to workforce readiness, Project Bike Tech is helping students build confidence, skills, and a path forward, on and off the bike.

Biking to School Toolkit — Ride to School Every Day

Hosted by: Safe Routes Partnership

Want to get more kids biking to school, but not sure where to start? Safe Routes Partnership has you covered with their Bike + Roll to School Day resources, including ready-to-go social media posts, customizable poster templates, and a step-by-step toolkit to help rally parents, students, and school leaders. You don't have to wait until May for Bike to School Day! Their step-by-step guide helps you make it happen any day, all year long. Use these tools anytime to create fun, community-centered bike-to-school events. And don’t miss their crowdsourced playlists to keep the good vibes rolling! Explore the toolkit.

Learning Math + Science — Via the Bicycle 

Hosted by: USA BMX Foundation

As students head back to the classroom this fall, the USA BMX Foundation is excited to offer dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that get kids moving, thinking, and creating. Blending BMX racing with STEAM learning, the USA BMX Foundation offers two innovative programs to inspire the next generation of thinkers, riders, and problem-solvers. These initiatives help 4th through 8th graders explore science, engineering, and math through the thrill of BMX. 

Collegiate Cycling — Rolling into Fall Racing Season

Hosted by: USA Cycling

As campuses come back to life, collegiate cycling programs across the country are kicking off a new season of racing and community. From velodromes to mountain trails, fall is the heart of the collegiate cycling calendar.

USA Cycling supports clubs that build leadership, friendship, and high-level racing. New teams receive free club registration, making it easier than ever to get rolling. Whether you're forming a team or cheering one on, collegiate cycling is building community and competition nationwide.

Learn more about collegiate cycling programs and how to get involved here.

Corporate Giving — Rolling Out Opportunities

Hosted by: Wish for Wheels

Wish for Wheels partners with corporate sponsors to provide brand new bikes and helmets to underserved 2nd grade classrooms across the country. Through its Team Build and Give program, businesses come together to build and donate bikes, giving students the chance to explore their communities on two wheels.

Whether you're part of a company looking to give back or a school hoping to bring bikes to your students, Wish for Wheels is rolling into the school year with purpose.

Conclusion 

The Youth Cycling Coalition (YCC) is a powerful network dedicated to ensuring millions of kids across the U.S. enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of bicycling and keep riding for life. By fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and supporting professional growth among youth cycling leaders nationwide, the YCC is accelerating progress toward a more inclusive and active future for the next generation.

As a leading voice for better bicycling in the U.S., PeopleForBikes is committed to ensuring every child has access to a bike, a safe place to ride, and the support they need to keep pedaling.

If your favorite youth program is not yet a part of this movement, reach out to ryan@peopleforbikes.org today to get involved. Together, we can expand opportunities, inspire young riders, and build stronger communities one pedal stroke at a time.