May is National Bike Safety Month, and Jefferson Elementary is gearing up to celebrate with a message that’s all about fun, fitness, and safety on two wheels. The excitement began this week when Pottawatomie Go Executive Director John Bobb-Semple visited Rise & Shine to bring the energy and bike safety tips to the student body, encouraging young riders to prioritize safety every time they hop on a bike.
Bobb-Semple reminded the crowd that safety is always first while demonstrating how to properly air up a tire with the help of a student volunteer. He reminded students to wear bright colors, always strap on a helmet, and check their bikes before hitting the road.
The celebration continues on Wednesday, May 7th, as Jefferson Elementary hosts a Bike Bus event for National Bike to School Day. Led by City Commissioner Chris Odneal in partnership with Pottawatomie Go, the Bike Bus will bring students and families together to ride safely to school in a group.
“For us, this isn’t just a fun event; it’s a way to show how important safe routes to school really are,” said Jennifer Epperley, Principal of Jefferson Elementary. “Biking is more than recreation for many of our families, it’s how they get to school. And when kids feel safe walking or biking, it builds independence, confidence, and a stronger sense of community.”
Jefferson’s efforts are part of a broader initiative to promote active transportation, bike safety education, and community engagement across Shawnee. The school and its partners hope to inspire habits that last a lifetime, starting with a safe, healthy ride to school.
"When it’s safer for students to ride their bikes to school, it’s safer for everyone in the community,” said Bobb-Semple. “Let’s pedal towards a future where bike and pedestrian safety is the rule, not the exception.”