Young riders in Dubuque participated in the BikeWise program this summer by building confidence, learning valuable bike safety skills, and exploring their community with experienced bike riders and professionals. Designed for middle school students, BikeWise combines hands-on bicycle safety education with guided rides along the Bee Branch Trail, Heritage Trail, and through downtown Dubuque. Along the way, participants practiced safe riding habits, learned how to navigate different traffic environments, and discovered how fun and practical bicycling can be.
What makes BikeWise unique is that students learn by doing. Instead of only talking about bicycle safety in a classroom, participants put their skills into practice on local streets and trails with experienced adults guiding the way. They learned how to communicate with other trail users, navigate intersections, ride predictably, and make safe decisions in real-world situations. These experiences help build confidence that can last a lifetime, making it more likely that students will continue to choose bicycling as a healthy, active, and independent way to get around.
The program is made possible through a strong community partnership that includes the City of Dubuque’s Engineering, Planning, and Sustainability departments, the Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Bike Coop, Dubuque County, John Deere Dubuque Works, Iowa Safe Routes to School, and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Together, these partners are helping create the next generation of safe, confident bicyclists while encouraging more youth to choose active transportation for recreation and everyday travel. Programs like BikeWise demonstrate how communities can work together to give young people the skills and confidence they need to safely enjoy the freedom and benefits of riding a bicycle.
