{"id":3592,"date":"2013-04-26T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T16:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wabikes.org\/?p=3592"},"modified":"2014-02-10T15:36:32","modified_gmt":"2014-02-10T23:36:32","slug":"building-bike-to-school-at-loyal-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wabikes.org\/index.php\/2013\/04\/26\/building-bike-to-school-at-loyal-heights\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Bike to School at Loyal Heights"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bike<\/a>Bike to School Month<\/a> starts May 1st<\/sup> with Bike to School Day on May 8th<\/sup>. Guest blogger Shannon Koller shares her story of starting a bike to school program at her child\u2019s elementary school.<\/em><\/p>\n

All it takes are a few committed parents.\u00a0 A few committed parents who believe that their school is the perfect place for kids to commute by bike can change the school culture around transportation choices.\u00a0 When kids get enthusiastic about cycling, that interest can radiate through the family and really change how families choose to move throughout their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Loyal Heights Elementary School, in northwest Seattle, draws its students from the surrounding neighborhood and benefits from relatively flat topography.\u00a0 This makes it an ideal place for kids to choose to commute to school by bike and the bike culture there has definitely taken root.\u00a0 Last year, the school participated in Bike to School month for the first time and was able to encourage 27% of the student body to participate in Bike to School month.<\/p>\n

\"Bike<\/a>That sort of ridership doesn’t happen by accident.\u00a0 Parents and full-time bike commuters, Paula Shaw and I met with school administrators and faculty to lay the groundwork for bike activities at the school.\u00a0 With a budget of $0, we found donors and wrote grants that funded 7 bike-related activities, including a bike safety assembly and the purchase of bike racks that expanded our bike parking from 24 to 80 spaces.<\/p>\n

Having collaborators within the school can certainly help to promote and enable the bike to school movement. This year, the PTA will fund the planned bike activities.\u00a0 Schools and PTAs have an interest in promoting wellness within their school community.<\/p>\n

The bike-related activities at Loyal Heights continue to expand.\u00a0 After seeing kids participate in the school’s Bike Rodeo last year – an event with various bike skills stations – I realized that there is a big gap between learning how to ride a bike and being prepared to ride on streets.\u00a0 In order to navigate safely through the neighborhoods, kids need to know rules of the road, right of way, how to navigate an unmarked intersection, and much more.<\/p>\n

\"Bike<\/a>This realization led to the creation of Loyal Heights Urban Cycling Club<\/a>, an after-school bike club. Participants learn how to ride on streets and practice these skills by taking organized rides.\u00a0 The club had their first ride a few weeks ago and encountered roundabouts, busy street crossings, and unmarked intersections, all excellent learning opportunities.\u00a0The next ride will be to community centers and sports fields where many kids have sports practice and summer camp. The ride will help them become familiar with the infrastructure around these destinations and so they feel more comfortable riding there on their bikes.\u00a0 Two parents and I coach the club, and a grant from Seattle’s Department of Transportation<\/a> helped with training and curriculum development.<\/p>\n

With momentum growing, coordinators started early planning Bike to School Month and are preparing to beat last year\u2019s participation this May.\u00a0 The emergence of a strong bike culture is especially significant at Loyal Heights because this is the school community that lost Kevin Black four years ago when he was killed on his bicycle on his way to work after dropping his daughter off at the school.\u00a0 For Loyal Heights to respond with by developing a vibrant bike community is both tribute and triumph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bike to School Month starts May 1st with Bike to School Day on May 8th. 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