High schoolers shoot videos explaining how it's done

Students with Iowa BIG, a project-based learning experience for high schoolers, had the first crack at the new e-bikes and e-scooters coming to Cedar Rapids and are crafting what they’ve learned into a series of educational and promotional videos to be released during the rollout of a bike share program later this month.

One will showcase how the bikes and scooters can be used to access the restaurants and other businesses in the downtown.

Other topics include “walking your wheels” on sidewalks; a tutorial on the phone application to reserve or unlock the bikes; and hand signals, parking and where to ride.

“Your parents told you to stay out of the street and stay on the sidewalk,” said Nicole Sullivan, 17, a junior. “With the bike share, you stay off the sidewalks and use the bike lanes.”

The videos will be around 60 seconds or shorter and shareable on social media and YouTube around the bike share launch on May 13.

Brandon Whyte, of the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization, a shared government group that represents Cedar Rapids and other communities, presented the project idea to Iowa BIG, and several students stepped up to participate.