Local bike camp teaches kids how to ride freely

The City of Takoma Park is hosting the "I Can Shine" bike camp, where kids with disabilities -- including autism, Down Syndrome and physical disabilities -- can learn how to ride a bike independently within a week. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
The City of Takoma Park is hosting the “I Can Shine” bike camp, where kids with disabilities — including autism, Down syndrome and physical disabilities — can learn how to ride a bike independently within a week. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
The City of Takoma Park is hosting the “I Can Shine” bike camp, where kids with disabilities — including autism, Down syndrome and physical disabilities — can learn to ride a bike independently within a week.
The City of Takoma Park is hosting the “I Can Shine” bike camp, where kids with disabilities — including autism, Down syndrome and physical disabilities — can learn to ride a bike independently within a week. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
James Hawkins, from Upper Marlboro, brought his younger brother, Joshua, to the bike camp. “When you have disabilities, or you’re not able to do things as well as other kids, it just makes you feel different.” (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Krish Kannan, of Germantown, brought his nine-year-old son, Arya, who couldn’t stop smiling after his class was over. “It was exciting!” he said. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
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The City of Takoma Park is hosting the "I Can Shine" bike camp, where kids with disabilities -- including autism, Down Syndrome and physical disabilities -- can learn how to ride a bike independently within a week. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
The City of Takoma Park is hosting the “I Can Shine” bike camp, where kids with disabilities — including autism, Down syndrome and physical disabilities — can learn to ride a bike independently within a week.

WASHINGTON — Parent Carolle O’Neil is beaming. Her 12-year-old son, Luc, is zipping around the gym on a bicycle at the Takoma Academy high school in Takoma Park, Maryland.

“Oh my gosh,” she says. “He loves this!”

The City of Takoma Park is hosting the “I Can Shine” bike camp, where kids with disabilities — including autism, Down syndrome and physical disabilities — can learn to ride a bike independently within a week.

Lucy Neher, the Safe Routes to School coordinator with the City of Takoma Park, says the camp is free through a grant from the Maryland State Department of Transportation and CVS Health.

Seeing a 12-year-old ride a bike isn’t out of the ordinary for most parents. But for O’Neil, whose son has a disability, it’s a very big deal. At the school, Luc is riding a specially adapted bicycle. He’s being spotted by two volunteers who struggle to keep up with him.

“He thinks it’s great that he can go as fast as he wants!” O’Neil says with a laugh. Sitting in the gym’s balcony, she watches Luc navigate a course marked out on the floor.

“I think he’s taking the corners a little slower now!” she exclaims joyfully.

Sitting next to O’Neil, parent Joani Elliott watches her daughter, Grace, playfully cut a 90-degree turn on the gym floor.

“She keeps doing better and better,” Elliott says of her 12-year-old. “She’s been excited every day to come here.”

Watch video from the ‘I Can Shine’ program

Elliott says Grace has Down syndrome and will likely never drive a car. But if she can master bicycle riding, she’ll be able to get around within her Germantown community.

Krish Kannan, of Germantown, brought his nine-year-old son, Arya, who couldn’t stop smiling after his class was over.

Arya has difficulty walking and wears braces on his legs. But on the bike, that disability is all but erased. Kannan says he’s very hopeful that Arya will be cycling on his own by the end of the week, and that his entire family can soon enjoy outings on the bike trails in their neighborhood.

James Hawkins, of Upper Marlboro, brought his younger brother, Joshua, to the bike camp.

Joshua, who has autism, took spins on several adaptive bikes and a specially equipped tandem. He looks forward to mastering the bicycle: “It was pretty fun to just be able to ride around on a bike on your own instead of just having to walk everywhere.”

The event was equally thrilling for his older brother.

“When you have disabilities, or you’re not able to do things as well as other kids, it just makes you feel different,” Hawkins, 17, says of his 14-year-old sibling. “Everybody just wants to be included in a group, and that’s what the bike camp is doing here for him.”

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.

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