Pupils Gear Up for Cycle Contest

Matt Kash, a fourth-grader at Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura, said anything less than a perfect score on his final test would give him fewer points than his classmate Kai Rose.

“We’re like total buds,” Rose said, peering through a carpet of sun-bleached bangs. But the 9-year-olds acknowledge a hint of competition between them.

They were not competing on math or history tests. Thursday’s obstacle course at their school tested balance, signaling, steering and braking abilities for cyclists.

Kash and Rose are two of nearly 8,000 elementary students in Ventura and Oak View learning bicycle safety.

During the two-week program, the students read, discuss and write essays on the theme “A Bike Is Not a Toy.” And third-, fourth- and fifth-graders compete in obstacle courses.

“Studies show that children who ride bikes are at the highest risk of getting hurt going to and coming home from school,” said Peter Brown of Ventura Parks and Recreation, which organized the program. “So we went directly to the schools to teach kids about safety.”

The preliminary bicycle competitions continue through Nov. 2 at 13 area schools. Of the approximately 2,000 students who are competing at their home schools, only about 200 will make the finals, Nov. 3, at the Buenaventura Shopping Plaza in Ventura.

Both Kash and Rose earned qualifying scores and will compete for a free bicycle in the finals. One of their home school opponents will be Amber Fonash, who scored 59 out of a possible 62 points Thursday. She earned two of those points by wearing her bicycle helmet during the competition.

“I was the only person in my class to bring a helmet,” Fonash said, adding that the extra points were not the only reason behind her decision. “My mom told me helmets save people’s lives and I want to be safe. I don’t want to fall down and crack my head open.”