Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) runs a bike-riding program at 41 elementary and middle schools, teaching students to ride safely during PE class.

The program, part of the district's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiative, provides PE teachers with training and equipment. At most schools, a shared fleet of bicycles rotates across the county. But at Washington Mill Elementary in the Mount Vernon area, a grant funded the purchase of about 40 bikes that stay on-site permanently, according to FCPS.

FCPS has not published a list of participating schools. Whether any Reston-area elementary schools in the South Lakes pyramid take part is unclear from available district materials. Families can contact the SRTS office at [email protected] for details.

At Washington Mill, PE teachers Brad Vaccarella and Mike Torres give every student from kindergarten through sixth grade four weeks of bike instruction each year. Students get two to three 30-minute classes per week, split between fall and spring sessions. Each session starts with a safety video and ends with a ride around the school perimeter.

The bike fleet ranges from balance bikes for beginners to mountain bikes for older riders. No training wheels. Once students learn the basics, they navigate cones, speed bumps and road signs set up on school grounds.

"Over the weeks and years, the growth we see is huge," Torres said, according to FCPS. "Seeing them become proficient and safe… well, it's probably the most rewarding unit I teach."

Vaccarella, who worked in a bike shop for more than a decade, also trains other FCPS staff during the summer on how to lead the bike unit.

Since the program launched at Washington Mill five years ago, the number of students riding to school has more than doubled, FCPS reported. The district did not provide baseline or current ridership figures.

Principal Bradley Bennink said the program connects to a childhood milestone. "As a child, being able to head out on your bike away from home is one of those first exciting chances to experience some independence," he said, according to FCPS.

Becky Gray of Safe Routes to School said the benefits extend beyond fitness. The program gives students "a skill that can last a lifetime," she said, according to FCPS.

Safe Routes to School operates under the FCPS Office of Safety and Security. The program encourages students to walk or bike to school. Fairfax County requires helmets for riders under 15.

Families interested in the program can reach the SRTS office at [email protected].