Bike to School Day

Wednesday is National Bike to School Day, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Riding a bike should be fun and encouraging our children to ride to school is a great way to foster healthy habits and a sense of independence. The more comfortable a kid is on a bike the more they will want to ride.

Increasing the number of students that ride their bikes to school also helps the community. According to the Safe Routes folks, vehicles taking students to school account for between 10 and 14 percent of the vehicle traffic during the morning commute. Reducing the number of cars around the schools makes them safer and reduces congestion for everyone else during the morning rush.

More kids on bikes also means more kids on bikes! Walking and riding to school creates a sense of community and builds enthusiasm for others to join. And the more people that walk and ride bikes in a city, the better it is for the community. Cities with high numbers of cyclists and pedestrians are safer, healthier, have a stronger sense of place, and have a stronger local economy.

Encourage your kids to ride to school this week. Join together with other families in your neighborhood and create a “Bike Train” to school. A little support goes a long way in developing confidence in kids and encouraging them to take that next small step towards independence.