Norte’s Autumnal Bike Program Review
This October, we wrapped up our ninth year providing after-school bike programs in northern Michigan. From our bike-train roots to getting more than 200 kids on bikes at 12 locations in Traverse City, Leelanau County, Boyne City, Elk Rapids, and more!
These programs cater to the diverse needs of elementary, middle, and high school students with various abilities and interests.
Fall Program Notes
2023 marked the first full season post-COVID, which made our primarily outdoor, low-risk program easier to run and helped students get back into normal routines at school. Participation in our spring programs rose to kick off the year, and that momentum continued into a well-attended Fall program.
Adventure Club supported by Higher Grounds
Don’t rule out the fun of an urban adventure! ABC builds on our Safe Routes to School program to inspire confidence and independence in riders rolling in town. Teams rode from six locations two days a week for three weeks.
Balance Bike Club (Title Sponsorship Available for 2024!)
The tiniest tikes have the most fun! Our youngest riders (think 2-5 years old) rode twice a week for two weeks at two locations. We had an incredibly enthusiastic response to Balance Bike Club at the Wheelhouse in Traverse City and the Chain Hub in Elk Rapids.
Mountain Bike Club supported by Sunset Tree Service
These kids LOVE the woods! The Mountain Bike Club puts elementary, middle, and high school students onto the trails twice a week at 14 trailheads throughout the five-week session.
Of course, these programs wouldn’t be possible without our Business Champions and the huge team of coaches and volunteers.
Fall Programs By-the-numbers
We saw exceptional growth across our fall sessions. 362 riders joined Norte programs, including over 200 in the Mountain Bike Club and another 49 in the Adventure Club. We’re really proud of these kids for deciding to join a healthy activity and learn new skills along the way.
Rider and Family Survey Responses
We’re always looking to improve what we do. Our post-program survey is crucial to shaping future program offerings, including start and end times, team sizes, and supporting coaches with more robust training. Our survey was delivered after fall programs finished and solicited the input of riders and parents. We quickly looked at some of the most important questions and feedback.
Do you feel more confident on your bike?
95% of respondents said they feel more confident after completing the fall bike program, with 4.9% feeling “A little” more confident.
Did you make a new friend while riding with Norte?
Just over half of respondents (51.9%) made a new pal this fall, outpacing the 7.3% of riders who said they didn’t make a new friend. 29.3% said they already knew their new teammates, while 12.2% replied, “Maybe.”
Did your child use a Norte library bike to participate?
While 73.2% of parents noted their child used their bike for fall practices, plenty of families needed wheels. 26.8% of parents borrowed a bike, reinforcing the importance of providing bike libraries in several regional communities.
Do you plan to ride your bike more?
Yes! 97.6% of kids plan to ride their bikes more often thanks to the added motivation and confidence of fall programs. 2.4% of riders might ride more.
On Our Radar
Kids and parents had several recommendations to make the program more fun and convenient. A few notable responses that our Programs team is already discussing ahead of next year:
More! - Several riders would like to ride more, whether it be every day, on an additional day, or extend the program another week or two.
Later start time - Timing programs to start later could reduce the rush of getting to busy trailheads. We’ve also heard from several parents that they might be able to coach if program start times shifted later.
Snacks - There are never enough snacks!
We Can’t Wait for 2024
Norte never stops rolling. School Coordinator Abbey Kaufman will be in dozens of elementary schools in northern Michigan over the next several months. Our Balance Bike Club helps build skills and confidence in the smallest riders while connecting to established school curricula. Get in touch to bring Balance Bike Club to your school!
We’ll have 2024 Spring Bike Program registration open in January. Stay in the loop; contact Abby Havill for information on the spring schedule and how to get involved.
