With back-to-school time here, the League of Illinois Bicyclists is making a push to get more kids to bike to school.

It cites data showing that the number of U.S. kids biking to school plummeted from 42 percent in 1969 to just 16 percent in 2001. The bicyclists’ league wants to reverse that trend.

Benefits include burning off calories, reducing car traffic and saving gas.

The group offers tips, including the suggestion that parents help pick a route and riding along on a practice run to make sure it’s safe.

Some schools also offer programs such as “walking school buses” or “bike trains” to have adults accompany kids on bikes.

The group’s website has bike safety tips for kids at bikelib.org.