Getting to School in Mexico: How Bicycles Transform Education

It’s important to consider the difficulties that some students face when they have to travel long distances to get to school. Bicycle donations can make a huge difference in ensuring that students have transportation to obtain an education, instead of dropping out.

“My bike gave me back the energy and motivation that my walk to school drained out of me. I’m so thankful for programs like KKIS that allow students like me a reliable way to get to school.” 

We hear a version of this from every student who receives a bike from us.

The yellow school bus is a standard part of the school experience for most American kids. But in the Riviera Maya in Mexico, there are no school buses that come to take kids to school each morning or bring them home each afternoon. 

Mexican students face a daily journey to school that requires them to find their form of transportation. This lack of consistent, reliable transportation can significantly impact education.

At Keeping Kids In School (KKIS), we see the challenges that many Riviera Maya students and families face when it comes to getting to public school every day. For some, the school might be located miles away from their home. Public transportation may be limited or nonexistent. Parents often work long hours and do not have cars to drive their kids to school.  

Without a school bus service, students walk, take public transportation, or beg for rides wherever they can find them. These commutes can take hours each way. Roads and highways often lack consistent sidewalks or protected lanes, making travel dangerous. Long commutes and hazardous conditions cause many students to arrive late, miss school, or drop out.

According to a 2012 Mexican government study, distance from school was one of the primary reasons for absence and desertion. Students with commutes of greater than six kilometers demonstrated much higher absenteeism. Dropout rates increase by 1.2% for each additional kilometer between home and school. 

There is a clear correlation between lack of transportation and decreased education. 

At KKIS, we believe there are solutions. 

Bicycles for Education

One of the most effective solutions is providing students with bicycles. KKIS works with individual donors and corporate sponsors like the Transformers Institute to donate bikes to needy students. 

Riding a bike shortens commute times substantially compared to walking. Bicycles are also inexpensive to purchase and maintain. They don’t require gasoline or fare money. With a bike, students can arrive alert and ready to learn rather than exhausted from their journey.

When corporate sponsors build bikes for KKIS students at a give-back event or team-building exercise, they include a bike helmet, a basket to carry books, and a strong lock. 

Students are now biking to school every day and excelling in their classes. They can focus on learning rather than worrying about how they’ll get to school tomorrow. Parents save on transportation costs and have peace of mind knowing their promising student will get to school each day.

With a simple solution like a donated bicycle, KKIS empowers students to take control of their education.

Bicycle Donations Make Education Accessible 

Reliable daily transportation should not be a barrier to education. Unfortunately, in Playa del Carmen and other developing areas of Mexico, it still prevents many students from attending and completing school.

From building and donating bicycles, KKIS is making education more accessible for Riviera Maya students. But we can’t do it alone. We rely on donations from individuals and corporations to fund our projects. 

For more information on how to do this, Click Here.

Every dollar donated improves access to education. 

Transportation should never be the reason a student misses school or drops out. At KKIS, we are removing this barrier so students can focus on building a better future.

Please consider donating to KKIS today. Your gift will put new bikes within reach of students who need them. Let’s pedal towards progress and support education in Playa del Carmen. 

As we pedal together into the future, let’s remember the power held in these simple, two-wheeled machines. With your help, we can continue transforming lives, one bicycle at a time, ensuring no child has to give up on their education due to a journey too far or a ride too expensive.

Join KKIS and its mission. Let’s ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstance, can look forward to a ride to school every day and the education they deserve. Your sponsorship can put a child on a bicycle seat and, more importantly, keep them in their classroom seat.

For every child who can cycle to school without worries, we create a chain reaction that benefits families, communities, and future generations. Every child deserves a fair start in the race for education, and your contribution can help them pedal towards a brighter future. Let’s make the journey to school less of a burden and more of an adventure.