The Childhood Injury Prevention Center has had a bicycle safety club called the LA Youth Bike Club at the Wilmington Boys' and Girls' Club for several years. At the end of the 6-week program club members are required to show proficiency in safe cycling techniques such as turn signals, knowledge of state laws for bicyclists, and of course, helmet use. Each student who completes the course receives an official LA Youth Bike Club membership card, a helmet, and a chance to win a new bike!

Currently our Center is developing a bicycle team made up of older children who have graduated from the bicycle club. The children in the bicycle team will learn to race competitively, participate in local races, and speak to children at local elementary schools on safe cycling. We have partnered with the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, CA, the only indoor cycling track in the country, to provide a facility where the children will train, under the direction of our cycling safety coordinator who is a certified coach. Eventually we want to take the kids on bicycle races throughout the country.

The team allows the children to be exposed to and to compete in a new sport (road cycling) and gives the club members something to aspire to, membership on the team. The children are promoting safety messages and also have the opportunity to get involved in a healthy activity that teaches them practical skills. We are currently seeking support for the cycling team. Click here to see how you can help: Adopt-A-Racer

On this page you can see photographs of children from the Wilmington Boys' and Girls' Club participating in the LA Youth Bike Club program.