Round Rock school starts biking program

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - A Round Rock school is about to start a program to get kids pedaling and exercising their way to school.

Sommer Elementary School is encouraging kids to ride their bicycles to school, and they think they've got an easy sell.

"I like bike riding, and it's fun," said Sommer Elementary student Joe Vieria.

The is program called Freiker, an abbreviation for frequent biker. Leaders know the interest is there, so they started with a safety lesson.

“I want to learn how to be more safe,” said student Parker Guerin.

"Hopefully, kids will learn to wear helmets and the rules and the laws and just be safe on their bikes," said Sommer Elementary School teacher Lindsay Austin.

“This is a great opportunity to not only have the students out exercising but to start their day that way,” said Susan Nix, assistant athletics director for Round Rock Independent School District. “They come in. They've already got their energy. They are ready to go. They are ready to start focusing on academics."

Sommer Elementary is the only Texas school participating in Freiker. And a local bike shop is joining the effort, hoping to inspire 1,000 youngsters to take their recreational activity and turn it into the transportation norm.

"I'm pretty excited about it," said Vieria.

To track their riding, each child who participates will have a chip inside their bike helmet to register each time they ride their bike.

Each time they are registered, they get closer to winning a prize - possibly a new motorcross bike.

The Freiker program will officially begin at Sommer Elementary School on Friday with a bike parade, lead by community leaders.