Many of us who cycle regularly learned from a parent, or from another family member. But not everyone has that privilege. That’s where Shifting Gears comes in. 

This youth cycling-education program, offered by Propel ATL for more than six years, provides essential cycling education to students in communities near Atlanta’s High-Injury Network (HIN).

The goal: to increase safety and develop savvy young cyclists in these neighborhoods – many characterized by below-average family incomes – where most of the city’s serious traffic injuries and fatalities occur. By empowering young riders, we aim to inspire a love for cycling that will increase recreation and transportation options for families.

For the first six years, this program was a partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, offering bicycle safety skills in a classroom setting. Now, Shifting Gears is an afterschool program, offered in partnership with the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation. 

Shifting Gears Program at Ben Hill Recreation Center, January 2025 | Propel ATL

Our exceptional instructors equip students with vital skills and knowledge, such as understanding the rules of the road, the health benefits of cycling, and demonstrating the ABC Safety Check (A-Air, B-Bike, and C-Chain). For some would-be riders, the skill building starts at square one, simply learning to balance, and then move. One student, having mastered the required balance at a recent session, happily exclaimed: “I am ready for my pedals!”

“Learning to ride a bike is more than just a skill; it’s a gateway to freedom, independence, and confidence,” says Jimmy Tyler, a cycling instructor with the program.

Post-program observations reveal that students demonstrate improved motor skills, self-discipline, and heightened self-confidence. Research from the Safe Routes to School Partnership highlights that exercise increases learning and memory in children, and those who face the greatest barriers to learning are those who stand to achieve the most. 

Recreation Centers selected for the Shifting Gears program are strategically located near High-Injury Network corridors in order to support community safety, and serve students from Title I schools. 

Last month, the program worked with students at the Anthony Flanagan Recreation Center in the West Manor neighborhood, as well as the William Walker (Ben Hill) Recreation Center. It will move to Pittman Park Recreation Center next week. Upcoming sites include Dunbar and Grant Park Recreation Centers, broadening the program’s reach to more communities. 

The reception has been warm everywhere. At Flanagan, the site manager informed Propel staff that this was the favorite offering at the location for students, parents, and staff, and they requested a return engagement as soon as possible. 

To celebrate the program’s end in the Spring, on May 21 Propel ATL will host Bike Family Day. This fun-filled event will reinforce the skills taught to students alongside their parents and is open to all participants. Attendees can look forward to a day of fun, learning, and community building. After the session ends, students and one parent or caregiver will be provided with a free bike to take home and continue the joy of bicycling. Stay tuned for more details, as preparations for this exciting day unfold.

Photo: Jimmy Tyler

While Shifting Gears is currently limited to partner recreation centers, Propel ATL has a wide array of free classes available spring-fall to the general public, including True Beginners, Get There By Bike, and City Cycling. These classes are designed to welcome everyone, whether you’re a first-time rider or looking to confidently navigate Atlanta’s streets. Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified when the class schedule is posted, or contact our Program Coordinator, Israel Negrete-Abreu, at [email protected] for more information about these classes or to explore partnership opportunities. 

“Propel ATL believes that moving safely, easily, and sustainably is a fundamental human right,” says Sagirah Jones, program manager. “Through the Shifting Gears program and beyond, we are dedicated to advancing cycling education as a transformative mode of transportation, connection, and community building.”

Shifting Gears 2024 - 2025 Recreation Centers Map