Detroit High School Slashes Absences by 14% With Free Bike Program

At Davis Aerospace Technical High School, missing class dropped sharply after students got free bikes from local donors. The wheels fix a big problem: kids stuck without a way to get to school.

The school's head, Michelle Davis, started giving out bikes as one step to boost daily attendance. Students now skip long waits for late city buses, making it to class when public transit falls short.

Take Elyazar Holiday's old trip - four buses and two hours to go 20 miles. "With the bike, I can still make up the distance or go to a different street to get on a different bus and still make it there on time," Holiday said according to Chalkbeat.

Detroit's public schools run just a handful of yellow buses. Most teens must use city transit instead. With many homes lacking working cars, getting to class turns into a daily struggle.

The bikes cut travel times dramatically. Senior Myron Dean's trip shrunk to seven quick minutes. Junior Tryve Roberts traded his hour walk for a brisk 16-minute ride.

Since 2018-19, Davis Aerospace saw a steep 23-point drop in students missing lots of school. Yet work remains - 42% still miss too many days. Skip 10% of the year, and the district marks you chronically absent.

Staff teach safe riding skills and keep bikes parked in bad weather. While Detroit has 165 miles of bike lanes, some areas still lack safe paths.

The bikes do more than just transport - they set students free. Junior Roderic Pippen puts it simply: "I like to adventure on the bike – find new places to be at."

After student feedback showed bikes could fix attendance gaps, Detroit's school board weighed expanding the program this July. Dozens of unused bikes sit ready in storage.

The school tackles attendance from all sides. Kids get free clothes, hygiene items, and access to washers. Each month brings prizes for the most present class.