High School Bicycle Education Program Finding Space in the Cracks of a Pandemic Economy
Frisco, CO (December 9, 2020) – While many businesses are failing and entire industries are being ravaged by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Project Bike Tech is seeking to expand its high school programs around the country, from 18 active classrooms in seven states to 30 in 10 states within the next 24 months. As the first high school bicycle education program, Project Bike Tech in School is a credited high-school elective that uses bicycle mechanics as a conduit to teach Common CORE and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) elements to students.
"The outdoor recreation industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States and remains relatively unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. We've established several Project Bike Tech chapters across the country and see it as an economical way for schools to provide Career Technical Education to students in a meaningful and impactful way," says Mercedes Ross, Project Bike Tech Executive Director. "The enthusiasm and support we have received from educators, employers, and the local business community, as well as the U.S. Department of Labor, assures us this program is making a positive long-term impact on the economy for generations to come."
Project Bike Tech's proprietary curriculum currently is classified under the Transportation Sector of Career Technical Education as an Introduction to Systems Diagnostics, Service and Repair, as well as a Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation career pathway in high schools around the nation. Project Bike Tech also incorporates career-building skills and techniques as a component of their class, so students leave the program knowing the basics of portfolio building, resume writing and interview tactics. Participants receive two certificates, one in career tech endorsed by CTE, and the other as an entry-level bicycle mechanic/assembler endorsed by the bicycle industry. As the student enters the bicycle industry, employers know the training is standardized and supported by the cycling industry.
According to May 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment reports, over 7.6 million workers are employed in the outdoor recreation industry throughout the United States. The outdoor rec economy generates over $887 billion in consumer spending annually that produces over 65.3 billion in federal tax dollars and $59.2 billion in state and local taxes.
"Project Bike Tech offers students the opportunity to learn about a mechanical system, career building skills and portfolio building that will be useful, no matter the career they choose. Now, more then ever, we as an industry have been recognized as essential workers and the need to have a highly-trained, qualified work force has become increasingly important. Project Bike Tech graduates have the skills to succeed in the bicycle industry and in life." Said Eric Hawkins, CEO and Chief Mechanic at Park Tools.
Project Bike Tech in School provides over 200 hours of intensive classroom instruction while teaching Common CORE and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) elements to students. Alongside partnerships with local educators, PBT also consulted with industry employers to develop the proprietary curriculum to ensure a skilled workforce with a wide variety of career pathways that will increase productivity and strengthen the economy. Additionally, local bike shops sponsor various PBT programs, and it is not uncommon for Project Bike Tech grads to find employment with these neighborhood businesses.
"The demand for bicycle techs is projected to rise substantially over the next eight years, and now with bike shops being designated as essential businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more people turning to bicycling as a safe and healthy means of commuting, that demand is primed to grow even more," says Tawn Kennedy, Project Bike Tech Regional Coordinator. "So far we have partnered with 18 schools across the nation, six here in Colorado, and we're in the process of increasing that number."
How can you help? Email info@projectbiketech.com with contacts of specific schools in your area that could benefit from Project Bike Tech. You can also donate here.
ABOUT PROJECT BIKE TECH
Founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California, Project Bike Tech developed the UC-accredited college-and-career-ready class, Bike Tech in School, that uses bicycle mechanics as a conduit to teach Common CORE and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) elements to high school students. Bike Tech in School is a college-and-career-ready class that teaches students the necessary skills to work as a professional bicycle mechanic and provides a stepping stone to a multitude of cycling industry careers, including engineering, fabrication, marketing, filmmaking, graphic art, sales, and writing for publications. The Project Bike Tech curriculum also incorporates employment preparation activities, including resume writing, interview tactics, portfolio building, and workplace safety. As the only program of its kind in the United States, the proprietary curriculum of Project Bike Tech is currently classified under the Transportation Sector of Career Technical Education as an Introduction to Systems Diagnostics, Service, and Repair. Project Bike Tech is a thriving program that has successfully impacted more than 3,000 high school students in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont.
