Joseph, a dedicated instructor at a Rhode Island-based middle school, leads a bicycle program that teaches students how to ride for the first time. His students gain confidence and independence as they explore local trails during school hours. However, the program faces a significant challenge: retention. As students transition to high school, engagement declines, and many never return to bicycling. Without continued participation, the motivation to ride fades, limiting the long-term impact of programs like Joseph’s.

This challenge is not unique. Programs such as Silver Stallion, based in the Navajo Nation and led by Scott Nydam and his team, encounter similar difficulties in sustaining ridership and engagement over time.

Data from the National Sporting Goods Association highlights the severity of this decline. According to their 2024 report, youth bicycle ridership has dropped to a generational low. In the early 2000s, 41% of 44 million children and teens (ages 7-17) participated in bicycling. Despite an increase in the youth population to 50 million, only 22% engaged in bicycling in 2024. This means that four out of every five children are without the essential cognitive, physical, and emotional benefits of bicycling. It also indicates that a vast majority of youth are not learning how to navigate their cities by bicycle, leading to a knowledge gap that further discourages ridership.

IS THIS A CRISIS? WHY IT MATTERS

Beyond the concerns of individual bicycle programs, this decline raises broader questions:

• Is bicycling becoming outdated for today’s youth?

Photo provided by Scott Fitzgerald during the National Bicycle Dealer Associations Summit, demonstrating the lack of ridership despite the increase in youth population in the U.S.

MENTAL HEALTH THREATENS RIDERSHIP GROWTH

How does a decrease in mental and physical wellness relate to bicycle sales for youth, youth bicycle ridership, and participation in bicycle programs? The Global Mind Project’s 2024 report reveals that distress levels among young people have doubled in the last five years, rising from 15% in 2019 to 30% in 2024, with minimal signs of improvement. The report states, “Younger age groups saw a dramatic decline of over 40 points, while those over age 55 showed little change. Since the 2021 low, recovery among younger generations has been minimal.”

The Global Mind Project, The Mental State of the World in 2024 Report: Shows an increase in distress and struggles for all age groups

The CDC has officially declared youth mental health a crisis. Yet, despite mounting concerns, bicycling—once a natural outlet for stress relief, physical activity, and social connection—is not a first choice of self-prescription or promoted as a solution. As motivation and activity levels decline among young people, how will they rediscover bicycling as a source of well-being?

Joseph’s middle school program provides students with physical activity, social connection, and a sense of achievement. However, when students age out or lack opportunities to continue riding beyond school hours, they lose access to these benefits. In a generation overwhelmed by digital distractions and constant demands on their attention, bicycling is often overlooked in favor of screen time—despite being an unmatched tool for autonomy, stress relief, and overall well-being.

Without intentional intervention, the industry risks allowing this decline to continue, further distancing young people from the benefits of bicycling.

OUR ROLE IN COUNTERING THIS THREAT

Joseph recognizes that to sustain youth bicycling in Rhode Island, he needs support. His search leads him to the Youth Bike Summit, a three-day annual event that brings together educators, program leaders, and youth advocates from across the U.S. Through workshops, discussions, and peer learning, he discovers strategies to keep students engaged beyond middle school, re-engage alumni, and build partnerships that support cycling within families and communities.

At the summit, young people take center stage as keynote speakers, facilitators, and decision-makers. Through their leadership, attendees like Joseph gain fresh perspectives on how to address declining ridership and rising mental health concerns. Equipped with new insights, resources, and a network of fellow advocates, Joseph is better prepared to sustain and expand his program’s impact.

Knowledge sharing and modernizing youth bicycling programs are critical to reversing this trend. Supporting initiatives like the Youth Bike Summit and ensuring that educators, community leaders, and organizations can attend is essential to preserving and growing youth ridership.

Get involved today. Support meaningful bicycling experiences for young people by donating or partnering with us (email us: info@nybcouncil.com) to reverse the youth ridership decline. Together, we can ensure that bicycling remains a vital tool for youth wellness, independence, and community connection.