The NYPUM program motivates children to change their negative behaviors by rewarding positive choices with the opportunity to ride a minibike. The privilege to ride is earned by meeting individual goals set by parents, teachers, and the child’s treatment team.

NYPUM participants must complete a prescribed curriculum before getting on a bike; the classroom portion is designed to provide the students with a basic understanding of how to be a safe and responsible rider. Students learn safe riding strategies, risk management, riding rules for track and trails, and many other lessons prior to sitting on a bike.

Once the participant has successfully completed the book work, they begin a series of 21 highly structured riding lessons, each of which emphasizes safe riding skills and practices. Following these lessons, and provided the student continues to meet their individual behavioral goals, participants are then allowed to go on trail rides.

Founded in 1969, NYPUM presently has more than 50 programs nationwide and continues to grow annually. NYPUM works! Click here to read the 2006 survey of outcomes related to NYPUM on the national level.