Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Gladstone Elementary School may have been closed Friday, October 31, but its halls were still buzzing with activity. Students and staff gathered for a special bike and scooter safety event—one inspired by a traffic accident that nearly claimed the life of a second grader just weeks ago.

Earlier this fall, 7-year-old George Kisimba was hit by a car while riding his scooter in front of his house, just a few blocks from the school. The accident left him with a traumatic brain injury and a long recovery ahead. This week, he returned to class wearing a brace, still healing, but back among his friends and teachers.

“That day changed all of us,” said Principal Uli Schneider. “George is such a sweet second grader who puts a smile on everyone’s face. We are so thankful that he’s back, walking, talking, and slowly resuming normal activities. His recovery is truly remarkable.”

That incident left a strong impression on the Gladstone school community. Teachers, students, and families alike have become more aware of the risks children face while walking or riding to and from school.

In response, Schneider and the school staff moved quickly to take action. Through a community grant program provided by Niagara Bottling, the school secured funding for 400 helmets—enough for every student at Gladstone.

“Together with the help of BikeWalkKC, Niagara Bottling, and MoDOT, we geared up for a fun, three-hour safety event,” Schneider said. “We wanted students to have fun, but also to understand how important it is to protect themselves and ride safely.”

On Friday, each student went home with a brand-new helmet and new knowledge about bike, scooter, and pedestrian safety. The event was hosted by BikeWalkKC, a local nonprofit that promotes safe streets and active transportation across the Kansas City metro.

“After such a frightening accident in their school community, it was wonderful to see the kids out there learning, laughing, and gaining confidence,” said Laura Fox, Director of Education at BikeWalkKC. “They were so engaged—asking questions, practicing signaling, and really taking the safety lessons to heart.”

BikeWalkKC’s education team set up a “traffic garden,” a miniature street layout that lets students safely practice real-world traffic scenarios. The course included lessons on yielding, stopping at stop signs, using one-way streets, scanning for traffic, signaling, and navigating roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.

“The goal was to help students experience what safe riding feels like in a fun, hands-on way,” Fox said. “We want them to understand not just how to wear a helmet, but how to share the road responsibly and watch out for others.”

To make the experience even more accessible, Lillian Hinkson, Child Passenger & Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Coordinator with MoDOT, partnered with the group to provide scooters for the skills course.

Across the region, several children have been seriously injured or killed this year in collisions involving bicycles or scooters. Educators and advocates hope that safety programs like the one held at Gladstone can help prevent similar tragedies.

For George and his classmates, the lesson was more than just about wearing helmets—it was about watching out for one another and staying safe on the streets they travel every day.

Photos contributed by KCPS, 2025