MOUNT VERNON — Ohio ranks first in the country with 1,523 bicycling route miles.
Knox County boasts 35 miles of paved bike trails. Roads and sidewalks in neighborhoods also offer opportunities to ride.
However, for many individuals with disabilities, trails and neighborhoods are off-limits because they cannot ride a bike.
I Can Shine seeks to change that. Through its I Can Bike program, the nonprofit works to open the world of cycling to individuals with disabilities.
Andrew Taylor, service and support administration director at the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities, saw the program in action.
“I was pretty impressed by what I was seeing with riders learning to ride that had no previous experience with riding a bike,” he said. “We worked hard to try to figure out how we could bring it here locally.”
Knox DD partnered with Kenyon College and Knox Public Health’s Get Healthy Knox County to bring the program to Knox County in July 2025.
Taylor noted that individuals with disabilities might be dealing with medical, physical, or cognitive challenges.
“So sometimes, learning to ride a bike might be something that gets pushed to the wayside, or maybe they missed the timing of a typical rider,” Taylor said.
“This is an opportunity for them to concentrate specifically on learning the skill in a very short period of time.”
The need for I Can Bike
Research shows that more than 80 percent of autistic children and more than 90 percent of individuals with Down Syndrome cannot ride a two-wheeled bicycle.
These children struggle with bike riding for various reasons:
•Poor motor skills
•Anxiety or fear
•Difficulty with coordination or balance
Physical activity promotes youngsters’ health and well-being in various ways.
And researchers say bike riding in particular “can be an excellent way for children to engage in sensory experiences and learn to regulate their responses to various stimuli.”
For Easton Thomas, who learned to ride this summer at Kenyon’s Lowry Center, it’s much simpler.
“I like to go around. It makes me happy. I’m here to have fun,” he said.
To Easton’s mom, Amy, “it means everything.”
“I want him to be able to ride a bike with his sisters and our family, so he’ll be more included in the family and be more active,” she said.
The family lives two minutes from the bike path in Danville.
“And maybe it will be a means of transportation, too, in the future,” Amy said.
Easton joined 10 other riders and 25 volunteers in the I Can Bike program held at Kenyon’s Lowry Center. Riders ranged in age from 8 to 36.
At the end of the week-long camp, all 11 proudly graduated with the ability to ride a two-wheeled bicycle.
Families typically pay to participate in the I Can Bike camps. However, Knox DD used American Rescue Plan Act money available through the state to cover the cost.
“That was a real blessing to have that option,” Taylor said.
Reaching a milestone
The camp featured an orientation on Sunday for riders and parents and 90-minute sessions Monday through Friday.
Each rider is paired with two volunteers who serve as technical support. Taylor said the volunteers also are “their encouragers and cheerleaders to help them figure out everything that comes along with biking.”
“We try to keep all of the volunteers matched with somebody so that each rider and volunteer can build a relationship, get to know each other, and make a bond. It’s been very successful,” Taylor said.
“We’ve had a really good week with riders getting a lot of successes, but also with volunteers learning a lot about disabilities and getting to know some really great people in our community both ways.”
“Sometimes you take a milestone for granted, like riding a bike.”
Andrew taylor, knox dd
Taylor said the I Can Bike program has an 80-85% success rate. Knox County saw the same success.
“We saw people who, early in the week, weren’t even sure how to get on a bike, and had never had any experience at all with a two-wheel bike,” he said. “Now they’re starting to ride independently and be successful.
Taylor said he saw lots of smiles and excitement. He also saw many parents in tears, texting, taking videos, and telling others, “they’re doing it!”
“They maybe didn’t think this was a milestone that they would ever reach. They’re reaching it this week,” Taylor said.
Reaching that milestone helps individuals “just be a bigger part of the community.”
“We have such great bike trails and all kinds of great things here in Knox County. This is a way for them to kind of connect,” Taylor said.
Transitioning to home
Riders start on specialized bikes provided by the I Can Shine company, many of which include stabilizers to help with balance.
They transition to their own bike throughout the week. A technician affiliated with I Can Shine matches them to the correct size and dimensions so the riders are comfortable with their specific bike, helmet, and safety gear.
Ellie and Jill Bayler of Lewis Center are looking forward to family outings now that Ellie can ride.
Ellie did not learn to ride as a youngster.
“Because of my surgeries and stuff, it held me back a lot. It was really hard for me,” Ellie said. “I’ve been struggling with riding a bike with my balance. The program helped me a lot. I’ve learned actually how to ride a bike.”
Now, the 14-year-old said she’s ready to hit the bike path on her own.
Jill said the family has lots of bikes, but has put bike riding on hold.
“We have three other girls, and we feel bad leaving Ellie behind, so we kind of all just do our own thing,” Jill said.
“But now we have our bikes that we need to take to the bike shop and get them all ready to go because we’re hoping to take a little trip out to Mackinaw Island or somewhere where we can all bike together.”
All smiles, Ellie and Jill agreed that the whole Ohio to Erie Trail might be in the family’s future.
“I’m excited. This has been really, really cool to watch her become independent, because it’s been such a struggle for so many years,” Jill said. “It’s wonderful.”
Not just for young children
The minimum age to participate in I Can Bike is 8. Taylor said learning to ride at a younger age helps individuals get ahead of the curve.
“You can be the same age as your peers when they’re riding in the neighborhood or bike trail together,” he said. “That puts you part of a community, which helps you get well-established in your life going forward.”
However, Taylor said a 36-year-old recently took on the challenge. So did a volunteer.
Taylor said the volunteer had not been on a bike since experiencing a bike accident at a young age. Taylor said the other volunteers teased her, asking, “What’s your excuse? Other people are overcoming barriers, so maybe it’s a good time to overcome a barrier.”
“She challenged herself, and she got on a tandem bike with the instructor,” Taylor said.
“Even at her age, she was encouraged to try again after 40 years off the bike.”
The volunteer sent a picture to her husband, who couldn’t believe she was on a bike.
“Everybody’s on their own journey, whether it’s biking or life, right?” Taylor said.
“It’s kind of a metaphor for the whole thing. I think it’s a good lesson that everybody can learn from everybody else.”
“If you ask me what the magic is, I think the magic is the synergy of what riders are learning from volunteers and volunteers are learning from riders.”
Andrew Taylor Knox DD
What does the future hold?
Taylor said the program’s success highlights the need for additional skill-based camps for participants with developmental disabilities.
However, he noted the need to do a better job spreading the word about the program. He also said organizers fought the summer schedule.
“I don’t know that I would choose the week after July 4th again because I think that’s a busy vacation time for people,” Taylor said.
I Can Shine also offers dance and swim programs. Taylor said those programs might be less expensive than I Can Bike because they don’t require specialized equipment. That’s especially important since ARPA funding is no longer available.
As far as other advice, Taylor said, “Don’t be afraid to try something new. Don’t be afraid to partner and bring a new program to the area.”
Taylor views the programs through an accessibility framework.
“It’s really great that you can learn a great skill that’s healthy and good for you, but it also gives you access to new things and new areas that maybe you didn’t have access to before,” he said.
Taylor said one rider was riding by herself with no one around her by Thursday.
“She was just taking laps and smiling ear to ear,” Taylor said.
“The work I do can be challenging at times, but weeks like this is a really good week. It’s not often you get to see direct results so quickly, but this program is designed to give you that intense, quicker result. It’s been fun to see that.”
