On Thursday, October 12th, the members of the bike club at Central Preston Middle School (CPMS) took their first ride throughout the Preston County School District campus in Kingwood that includes CPMS, Preston High School, and the county’s central offices. Club sponsor and CPMS teacher Jamie Knotts started the club to give students more positive activities for building social skills and to teach them life-long athletic/recreational activity skills. Students are also learning skills that may cross over to driving within the next few years, according to Knotts. Students are taught how to make decisions appropriately such as what to do at intersections, etc. Knotts said, “those skills are still applicable to driving a car, so it is a good early introduction.” But also, Knotts added, “kids just love to ride their bikes.” Knotts has two goals in creating this club – skill acquisition (teaching students how to be safe, how to ride appropriately, and maintaining the bicycle) and giving students the social outlet that many teenagers don’t have.
Knotts, a native of Preston County, who grew up in Fellowsville, is familiar with the lack of riding outlets that rural students often face. Fortunately, the rail trails throughout the state have made additional riding venues for students.
The bike club meets once a month, but since October 12th was the first meeting of the year, Knotts said they will meet again at the end of October to make up for missing out in September. The club meets after school from approximately 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Parents must pick up their students and bikes by 5 p.m.
To participate in the club, it is best if students have their own bike and helmet, but that should not be a deterrent from attending, as Knotts said the bike community is very generous and there’s always someone willing to lend a bike or helmet, and there are some local organizations willing to donate bikes and helmets if there is a need.
Bikes must be delivered to the school by a parent, relative, or neighbor, anyone who can transport the bike for the student. Bikes can arrive as early as the night before the club meeting. When the student is picked up after the club meeting the bike should also be picked up at that time. The club is free and open to all CPMS students in grades 5 – 8. Students and guardians must complete the permission form and riders must be signed up prior to the ride (given the logistics that is at least a day’s noticed is needed). Knotts said the club does require some level of parental commitment given the need to drop off and pick up the bike. Knotts could also use assistance with chaperoning from board approved parents or PCS employed staff members.
When a student joins the Wildcats Bike Club, Knotts works with each student individually, making certain they have the skills needed to ride safely. Ride routes include the Cheat River Trail down by the river and the Northern Trail that starts in Kingwood and heads south towards Tunnelton.
Knotts plans to have an end of the year celebration with an all-day field trip ride from Reedsville to Marilla Park in Morgantown on the Decker’s Creek Trail. The ride will culminate with a picnic. The requirement to participate in the end of the year event is the student must have completed at least one other ride with the group this school year. The CPMS Wildcat Bike Club rides again in late October. Students or parents/guardians who want additional information or staff willing to volunteer to help can contact Mr. Jamie Knotts at jknotts@k12.wv.us