Kids can explore the science of bicycle motocross and see their own riding adventures featured in a new exhibit opening Saturday at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
“Riders Ready: The Science of BMX” opens Oct. 24, inviting children to explore the physics behind biking through hands-on activities focused on speed, energy, balance and fun.
The 2,500-square-foot exhibit will run through Jan. 3, 2027, at the Crown Heights museum, where visitors can learn about bike setup, track design and helmet safety while experiencing the science behind the sport.
Opening-day festivities will include BMX demonstrations by professional riders Matty Craer and Chad Douglas, helmet decorating with Transportation Alternatives, and an “On Our Bikes” storytime and singalong with author Dan Saks. Families can also enter a raffle for cycling glasses courtesy of 100Percent and participate in bike raffles hosted by the BMX Foundation.
BMX demonstrations, helmet decorating and family activities will be part of the opening-day festivities at Brooklyn Children’s Museum.Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The museum is also inviting Brooklyn families to help bring the exhibit to life by submitting photos and videos of their children riding bikes. From first attempts with training wheels to riding independently, the submissions will be compiled into a video montage featured in the exhibit.
Atiba D. Edwards, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, said the exhibit offers new perspectives on “exploring the world.”
“Riding a bike on your own for the first time brings the joy of exploring the world from a whole new perspective. I vividly remember riding my gold BMX bike from Brownsville all across Brooklyn,” Edwards said. “‘Riders Ready’ builds on that excitement by allowing children to explore the science of balance and motion through hands-on play. We can’t wait to see kids come curious and leave with new questions and the confidence to find their own answers.”
Developed by Discovery Lab in collaboration with the USA BMX Foundation, the exhibit features several interactive activities designed to introduce children to engineering and physics through biking.
Brooklyn families can submit photos and videos of their children riding bikes for a video montage featured in the new exhibit.Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Children’s Museum
In Build a Bike, visitors can customize a digital BMX bike with parts suited for racing or freestyle riding, along with a personalized paint scheme. Build a Track allows children to arrange physical blocks into a course and watch their designs appear on a screen.
Another activity, Starting Gate, lets visitors test their reaction times on real BMX bikes by leaning forward in response to a race-start countdown.
“Riders Ready: The Science of BMX” will be on view at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., from Oct. 24 through Jan. 3, 2027. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and includes access to the exhibit and the rest of the museum. Children under 1 enter free.
Tickets and additional information are available at brooklynkids.org.