For Immediate Release: June 2, 2021

Framingham Public Schools Launches Bikes for Kids to Help Address Transportation-related Issues for Students

Program and training made possible with support from the United Way of Tri-County, Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, 1854 Cycling, CrimsonBikes, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School-A Program of MassDOT, and Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe

Framingham, MA (June 2, 2021) – To address transportation-related issues for students impacted by COVID-19, the Framingham Public Schools in partnership with the United Way of Tri-County, Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, 1854 Cycling, CrimsonBikes, Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe are providing up to 100 middle school students with free bicycles and helmets. The District also partnered with Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, a program of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), to provide Bicycle Safety Trainings for all bike recipients.

This initiative began when Ms. Magaly Rivera, a Fuller Middle School Counselor, reached out to Mr. Joseph Corazzini, Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Community Development, regarding a student who did not have a bus seat which was causing issues with their attendance. In furthering the conversation, Ms. Rivera asked Mr. Corazzini if he might be able to help secure a bicycle for this particular student. Instead of just saying “yes,” Mr. Corazzini asked if there were other students sharing this experience. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, limited seating capacity on buses, prioritization of eligible riders in grades K-6,  there were many middle school students who could benefit from transportation support to and from schools. 

Working with the Framingham School’s Transportation Department and the school social workers at Walsh, Fuller and Cameron Middle Schools, the District identified 100 students to participate in this program. Mr. Corazzini reached out to community partners. Paul Mina from the United Way of Tri-County immediately responded by email, committing to picking up half the cost of the bikes. Lino Covarrubias from Jewish Family Service of Metrowest also responded with a commitment of support to help fund the cost of the bikes. Police Chief Lester Baker from the Framingham Police Department connected the District with Safe Routes to School, a program of MassDOT, to provide bike safety training to the students. Safe Routes to School then connected us to Breakstone, White & Gluck who in partnership with Project KidSafe helped to purchase the helmets for students. Mr. Brandale Randolph, founder of the 1854 Cycling Company has been an unsung hero. There is a national bike shortage. He worked with Mr. Corazzini to find an international manufacturer who could fill the order. After exploring a variety of quotes from different manufacturers, Mr. Randolph was ultimately able to make the connection to Mr. Charles James from Crimson Bikes in Cambridge who filled the order and gave the District a great deal on the bikes. 

“This initiative is an example of turning barriers and hardship into empowerment,” said Mr. Corazzini. “Not only are the students able to get to and from school, they now can have better accessibility to job opportunities across the City, parks, community centers and more. Having a bike also gets students out and moving. I hope that the initiative will inspire people to see challenges as opportunities for change and ignite a movement to make Framingham a ‘cycling community’.” 

“As a long-time cyclist myself, this effort for our students couldn’t make me more proud,” said Dr. Tremblay, Superintendent of the Framingham Public Schools. “Helping them to adjust their helmets and seat post height the other day was not only a wonderful opportunity to engage with our students, it was an opportunity to share my passion for biking and to connect with every student there about the importance of safety while riding. This effort shows what can happen when a community rises together in the face of challenge.”

To receive the bicycles, students are signing a code of conduct agreement and they must attend scheduled bike training provided by Massachusetts Safe Routes to School - A Program of MassDOT. The Training Session begins by fitting the students with a helmet and teaches them about helmet safety; measures them for the correct size bicycle; offers guidance on bike maintenance; gives best practices on how to mount the bike; explains proper braking; hand signals; and more. They offer great tips for all bike riders on the mass.gov website. 

“Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program officials are pleased to be a part of this new initiative to support bicycling for middle school students in Framingham,” said

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program Director Diane Hanson.  “We look forward to providing helmet fitting and bike safety training to over 100 students to help get them started on a lifelong love of biking that can be used as a viable way of getting to and from school, enjoying rides with friends, and participating in a healthy and fun activity. Introducing biking and bike safety at an early age will teach critical skills to these young riders.”

(Photos taken at the Cameron Middle School Training and Bike Distribution)

“Providing access to quality bikes for transportation is at the core of our mission,” said Charles T. James, Founder of CrimsonBikes. “That’s what makes our involvement in this project so special. Not to mention we were fortunate enough to have a surplus of bicycles in the midst of the worst bicycle shortage ever! Last year, we went all over the world searching for bicycle manufacturers who could supply us with the products we need. This path led us to Benotto, an Italian-born company who makes high-quality bikes in Mexico. In finding a solution to our own problem we actually were able to solve a much more impactful one. Hopefully, more school districts take a cue from Framingham Public Schools. This was a creative and positive way to provide accessible transportation.”

(Photos taken at the Walsh Middle School Training and Bike Distribution)

“The past 14 months have made us acutely aware of how much we rely on one another,” said Paul Mina, President & Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Tri-County. “So, when Joe Corazzini called and asked the United Way of Tri-County for help getting his students to school, we immediately said yes. Attendance at school is vitally important and riding a bike is a great way to ensure children are in the classroom every day. Biking builds critical thinking skills and teaches self-sufficiency, confidence, and hopefully demonstrates how important it is to give back.  The United Way has been supporting children and families in the community for a long time, and we believe the Framingham Public School’s bike program is a remarkable and creative way to assist students who have run out of options to get to school. At the end of the day, we are all in this crisis together, and we’ll get through it together, as a community.”

(Photos taken at the Cameron Middle School Training and Bike Distribution)

“It is a pleasure for JFS to be able to fund part of the purchasing of these bikes,” offered Lino Covarrubias, Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest (JFS) . “I want to thank the Fier Family Fund at JFS for their generosity in making this possible and thank the Framingham School District for their leadership in identifying this need and quickly reaching out to us for assistance. Look forward to seeing the smiles of the students on their new bikes.”

To participate in this program, students are committing to:

• Wear a helmet during at all times when using riding the bicycle

• Secure bikes with a lock when on school grounds

• Check both ways when crossing the street

• Do not use headphones while riding 

• Only ride on bicycles on designated areas

• Comply with all safety rules of the road to ensure proper safety while riding

• Use appropriate hand signals when riding

• Give the right of way to other vehicles and pedestrians

• Not ride “double”; only one person per bicycle

Parents must also commit to working with their child to establish a safety plan for proper use of the bicycle and ensure they will comply with the safety rules provided in the training. 

Framingham Public Schools would like to thank the following people and organizations for their incredible contributions to this program and initiative:

• Paul Mina and Sandy Baldi from the United Way of Tri-County

• Lino Covarrubias from Jewish Family Service of Metrowest

• Chief Lester Baker from the Framingham Police Department

• Rachel O’Donnell, Vivian Ortiz, Diane Hanson, Judi Riley, Jacquelyn Goddard, Derek Krevat and Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, a program of the Mass Department of Transportation

• Breakstone, White & Gluck and Project KidSafe

• Brandale Randolph, founder of the 1854 Cycling Company

• Charles T. James, founder of CrimsonBikes in Cambridge

About Framingham Public Schools
The mission of the Framingham Public Schools is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically-thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by highly-qualified staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community. For news, updates, and announcements, follow Framingham Public Schools (@FraminghamPS) on Facebook, Twitter, and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.