Tag Archives: bike-to-school

Confessions of a Bike to School Advocate

Posted on December 10, 2014 by | 2 comments

Panda enjoying the ride

I think I’ve mentioned one or two (or a hundred) times over the past seven years that I’m a bike to school advocate. If you’ve been reading Car Free Days for any amount of time, you’ve most likely surmised that I’m a tiny bit passionate about encouraging kids and families to bike and walk to school.

One message I’ve repeated over the years is how easy it is to bike and walk to school. Since my first kid started pre-school in 2004, I’ve talked about the simplicity and the joy and the fun of biking to school with kids.

But lately, I’ve started to wonder about the ease of this whole bike-to-school thing.  Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, Everyday Biking, extravehicular activities, family cycling, neighborhoods, School, sustainability

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Is “Liking” Riding & Walking Good Enough?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by | 4 comments

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This week everyone is talking about the Danish study linking walking and biking to school with better concentration.  Kids + walking/biking + education = hot topic, right?

The story has legs and is making the rounds on Twitter,  Facebook, blogs, and news outlets. Everywhere we click (at least in our admittedly bike- & walk-centric world), we see a link to the study.

You’ve seen it, haven’t you?

Like many of you, we get excited about these articles and want to pass the on to our network of friends.

Click! Like! Share! +1!

The resulting flurry of retweets and likes is a good thing, isn’t it? “Hey look here’s a great story. Let’s share it with our friends!” We click and make a difference. And then …. nothing.

For all their worth so many of these stories fade quickly, replaced with the next alt-transpo buzz (like … “e-bikes are coming and they are going to change everything!”). Continue reading →

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Posted in bikes, Human Powered Politics, kids, neighborhoods, School

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Biking to School in the Rain (don’t be a wimp, mom)

Posted on May 2, 2011 by | 5 comments

IMG_2358We woke this morning to the sound of raindrops pounding the roof and splashing the windows. So hard to accept after the lovely sunny and warm weekend. Yesterday we were at the beach and there were kids in their skivvys playing in the sand and dipping their tiny toes in the Sound. We slathered on sunscreen and sat in the sand eating pizza and drinking beer out of plastic cups (and talked about how summer had arrived).

And today we woke to rain. Really? On day one of Bike to School Month? Can’t we catch a break?

I was ready to ditch the bike-to-school-plan and walk instead. (We only live 5 blocks from school, it’s easier to walk). But we _are_ the organizers and during Bike to School month, we ride. Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, School, weather

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The Bike Fairy says “Bike to School, Kids”

Posted on May 21, 2010 by | 6 comments
The Bike Fairy

The Bike Fairy gives prizes to kids who ride to school

May is officially Bike month. For most riders, that means Bike to Work month. But as you’d expect from a blog that focuses on family cycling, we like to remind folks that it’s also Bike to School Month!

Despite unseasonably cold and wet weather the majority of the month, 86 kids at our school have already completed their online logs for an impressive 517 bike trips to school. We’ve counted more than 100 bikes at morning dropoff twice already, and that’s with the sucky weather. These kids are kicking ass.

Today the focus around town will be on the grownups riding to work for the F5 Bike to Work Day — Cascade is promoting a ride with the mayor and photo-op at City Hall, F5 is sponsoring feed and swag stations all over town, and there’s a big after party in Ballard – but that’s OK, because we’ve got the Bike Fairy! Continue reading →

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Posted in bikes, Events, kids, kids' bikes, seattle

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$1000 Available from Safe Routes to School

Posted on February 27, 2010 by | 2 comments

Thought I’d pass along some information about 35  $1000 grants that are available from the National Center for Safe Routes to School. The application deadline is April 7, 2010.

Safe Routes to School $1,000 Mini-grant Call for Applications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (February 26, 2010) — The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for up to 35 $1,000 mini-grants for creative, youth-focused ideas that support safe walking and/or bicycling to school. Eligible activities must occur at an elementary or middle school in Fall 2010 and support the overall goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs — to enable and encourage children nationwide to safely walk and bicycle to school…. Continue reading →

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Posted in bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

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Biking to School…Without Parents

Posted on January 15, 2010 by | 9 comments

biking to schoolI spent two fantastic days in Marin, CA this week visiting with old friends and hanging out with their families. Just north of San Francisco, Marin is the epitome of car culture with traffic jams, packed parking lots and streets clogged with luxury cars.

At least they are doing something right with the kids: they get to school on bikes. Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, In other Cities, kids, neighborhoods, School

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With Kids, Sometimes We Ride on the Sidewalk

Posted on May 11, 2009 by | 15 comments

Sometimes We take the SidewalkBike to School Month is in full swing. The racks have been full this past week despite the rainy weather. This hardy group of riders doesn’t mind biking in the rain. Way to go.

The increased number of pedalers around the school means a few biker, non-biker conflicts. We’re learning from each other and need to keep an open dialog so we can live harmoniously on the shared streets and sidewalks.

One recent conflict surrounded whether or not bikes belong on the sidewalk.  In King County, bikes are allowed on the sidewalk as long as they follow the rules of the road and the sidewalk. Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

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Transportation Forum + Bike to Work/School Kickoff

Posted on April 30, 2009 by | 1 comment

I love commuting with my wife

I love commuting with my wife

Friday is a big day.

We kick off Bike to Work month (Tim) and Bike to School month (Anne and the kids).  I’m pretty sure we’ll be blessed with clear (or at least dry) skies, so don’t delay the start of your commute season. Remember, this is Seattle—the weather can only get worse as we get closer to June.

If you find yourself downtown with a spare hour around lunch time, I’d recommend checking out the Forum, TOWN HALL: Visioning the Puget Sound Region’s Transportation Future. It’s part of their ongoing Friday Forums series:

Transit demand continues to skyrocket while operating revenues are plummeting.  How do car sharing, walkable and bike-friendly communities, and transit work together to form a new vision for transportation?

You’re even bring your lunch so if your schedule can swing it—unfortunately, mine can’t— please share any good takeaways. From over here in the cheap seats, it looks like an interesting collection of speakers will be covering some major ground.

WHEN:Friday, May 1st, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
WHERE: Bertha Landes Knight Room, Seattle City Hall (on 5th Ave.between Cherry and James St.)

More info at the Transportation Choices Coalition website.

-Tim


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Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, Commute

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Getting Ready for Bike to School Month

Posted on April 21, 2009 by | 4 comments

Bike to School

It’s hard to believe a whole year has passed since we planned our first ever Bike to School Month at our local elementary school . I feel so much older and wiser this year : ) Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

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Walk and Wheel Month

Posted on October 14, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Walk and Wheel Poster Large

Walk and Wheel Month is off to a great start. 108 kids from our local school have officially signed up. That’s a lot of walking and biking. Even if every kid doesn’t walk or bike every day, at least we’re getting some cars off the road on a regular basis.

Last week we walked to school with some neighbors who normally drive the five-uphill-blocks. The mom admitted that shame kept her from driving that day—she didn’t want us to see her driving to school.

I say, whatever motivates you to get out of your car, roll with it!

– Anne

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Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, seattle

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