Tag Archives: kids

Bike to School Month Wrap Up

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

Bike to School month was a huge success at our local elementary. We averaged about 60 riders every day–the bike racks were full and fence and gate locking was overflowing every day this month. It was certainly a beautiful sight.

A big thanks to Leslie and Clint for leading the effort – you did a great job!

Many parents joined their kids and pedaled to and from school all month. I talked to a few who said they were hooked and plan to get to school on two wheels from now on. Right on. Others say “they’ll see” if they can keep it up. I tried to encourage any parent who would listen to keep on riding. It’s so great to see the kids excited about riding and the traffic reduction around school was definitely noticeable. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, seattle

Tagged Bike to School Month, Family Cycling, kids, seattle

Getting casual on the Snapdeck

Posted on May 12, 2008 by Anne | Leave a comment

Our kids are so comfortable riding on the Snapdeck, they are getting a little um, casual. Sometimes I feel the weight shift a little and look back and discover them in a different position than when we started our ride. Continue reading →

Bike to School Month, Parents Who Ride Rule!

Posted on May 6, 2008 by Anne | 6 comments

I would like to applaud all of the parents who are taking their kids to school by bike this month. You are all doing a fantastic job. Way to go! Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Human Powered Politics, kids, neighborhoods, seattle

Tagged bike-to-school, bikes, Family Cycling, kids, parents

Bike to School Month, Day One

Posted on May 1, 2008 by Anne | 2 comments

The first day of Bike to School Month went off without a hitch. This morning, my two kids enthusiastically pushed their bikes up all six hills. No complaints. I usually get at least oneten complaints out of the five-year-old. To which I usually reply, “please don’t whine so early in the morning”. I didn’t hear a peep out of him this morning. He even wanted to push his own bike up the hills. Even though we always go to school by human power – we regularly hoof it up the hills or take the Xtracycle, for some reason the kids knew today was special. They got really excited when they saw the first fellow cyclists riding their bikes to school. Their excitement grew as we got closer to school and saw even more cyclists. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to see the one rack and most of the fences and gates surrounding the playground completely packed with bikes. (the most I have ever seen at school).

Great Day. Hopefully the momentum will continue and we’ll see just as many bikers tomorrow and during the coming weeks.

How about you – did you ride to School/Work today?

– Anne

2 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, seattle

Tagged alternative transportation, bike-to-school, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, seattle

Bike to School Month Family Bike Extravaganza

Posted on April 26, 2008 by Anne | 3 comments

We kicked off Bike to School Month in style this morning with a fantastic family-focused bike event at our elementary school. Judging from the turnout – easily more than 100 people – it seems there’s no better way to get families excited about biking to school than getting them biking at school. Of course a rare sunny (this spring in Seattle, anyway) Saturday didn’t hurt numbers. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, seattle

Tagged Bike to School Month, bikes, conference bike, cycling, Families, Family Cycling, kids

The Bike Rack Dance

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Anne | 2 comments

This bike rack makes us laugh. It’s really old and rusty and it’s not bolted to anything. Very effective!

I only shop at this Safeway when I’m feeling lazy: it’s at the top of the hill so I can cruise down the hill on my grocery-laden bike for a change.

The other day the five year old did an impromptu dance on the rusty-non-bolted rack. He was really loving the music he created. The fake burp at the end of the video is the best – you gotta love five-year-old boys.

– Anne

2 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, kids, racks, xtracycle

May is Bike to School Month

Posted on April 13, 2008 by Anne | 6 comments

I saw this video on Copenhagenize last week. Wouldn’t it be nice if biking to school in America was that pleasant? I love the shots of really young kids riding on their own. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, seattle

Tagged bike-to-school, bike-to-work, bikes, Commute, kids, schools, seattle

Road Riding Skills for Kids

Posted on April 8, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

A few days ago we mentioned that the kids are getting heavy enough that carrying both long distances can be a chore. While the Stokemonkey, is an obvious (though unobtainium) solution, we think we might be on to something else —kid power!

The seven-year-old is getting interested in riding on her own. By this summer, when we don’t have school and more time to get places, I’ll probably experiment with having her ride on her own and just haul the five-year-old on the Xtracycle. She needs to get some miles in before then. She’s pretty timid and not very comfortable with speed just yet. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids

Tagged cycling, kids, riding bikes, tips

Sproing! Spring has sprung

Posted on April 3, 2008 by Anne | 4 comments

After weeks of cold weather, rain and even some snow, winter finally let go and gave us some warmer days, spring finally arrived in Seattle, perfectly timed for the Seattle School District’s Spring Break. It’s been a good week; we’ve spent a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful sunny days, on the bike and off. There’s something lovely about this time of the year—the sun is still relatively low so the light is really nice and everything is green. Late frosts this year have messed with our schedule but the warmer days finally conviced the kids and I it was time to prepare the beds and plant the garden. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in BIG Loads, bikes, extravehicular activities, kids, seattle, xtracycle

Tagged BIG Loads, gardening, kids, seattle, Spring, xtracycle

Life Lessons from a Preschooler

Posted on March 19, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

The four-year-old and I journeyed over the University Bridge to pick up some ski helmets we scored on Craigslist. We pulled into the Red Robin parking lot a few minutes early and waited for our helmet connection to show. While we were waiting, the little guy noticed the Bryce Lewis ghost bike memorial on the corner of Fuhrman and Eastlake. Continue reading →