Tag Archives: School

Is “Liking” Riding & Walking Good Enough?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Anne & Tim | 4 comments

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 →

4 Comments

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

Tagged advocacy, bike advocacy, bike-to-school, bikes, kids, motivation, parents, School, social media, walk

Bike to School Day

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Anne | 2 comments

7222292360_0bdf0728cb 128 kid bikes, add some parent bikes, 8 dozen doughnuts, much-needed coffee for the parents who don’t like to get up earlier than necessary, police escorts riding with the kids and blocking intersections with patrol cars = successful Bike to School Day.

We hope you enjoyed Bike to School Day and Bike to Work Day!

more photos here

– Anne and Tim

2 Comments

Posted in bigger than here, bikes, extravehicular activities, family cycling, neighborhoods, School, seattle, sustainability

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

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

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Anne | 5 comments

We 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 →

5 Comments

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

Tagged 2011, bike-to-school, kids, May, rain, School, seattle, weather

Wednesday is Intl Walk to School Day (but you can walk/ride all month)

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Anne | 4 comments

We’re kicking off Walk to School Month on Wednesday at our kids elementary school with some hot beverages and tasty snacks on the playground.

If you’re so inclined, and with a few modifications to the 7 day plan, you too can pull off a last-minute event. All you need is some enthusiasm, a few signs, some warm bodies and maybe some food and drink. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, Events, kids, neighborhoods, School

Tagged events, International Walk to School Day, kids, October 6th, School, seattle, walk to school

$1000 Available from Safe Routes to School

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Anne | 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 →

2 Comments

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

Tagged bike-to-school, kids, mini-grants, Safe Routes to School, School, SRTS, walk to school

Walking or riding or skipping to school

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Anne | 10 comments

Walk&Wheel-brown-crop

October is International Walk to School Month. At our local elementary, we don’t discriminate. Walk, bike, hike, skip or even take the bus. Just don’t drive to school in October!

Our elementary school received a Seattle Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School grant last year. We’re using some of the funds from the grant to host a Walktober celebration this month. Kids keep track of their “active” trips to school and earn prizes if they make a minimum number of trips by foot, bike or scooter (any way other than a personal automobile).

Basically we’re bribing them.

We should really give prizes to the parents. What do you think would work? massages? coffee? gift certificates to the pub?

Cause it’s really up to the parents to make it happen.

– Anne

10 Comments

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

Tagged bike, ride, Safe Routes to School, School, walk

Bike to School Month, the Momentum

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Anne | 1 comment

It’s so great to watch the number of cycling families grow during Bike to School Month.

I have noticed a pattern since we started organizing Bike to School Month last year. At the beginning of the month, the number of cycling parents and kids isn’t that impressive. This year a dozen or so families biked to school on a daily basis the first week. But as the month progresses, (and the weather improves) more and more families join the fun and start riding bikes to school.

Is it momentum? Is it peer pressure? Does it just look like fun?

Kids see their friends riding to school and it looks like so much fun, they want to do it too. Those kids convince their parents to give it a try. As more and more families join in, the bike racks fill up. And pretty soon bikes are spilling into the garden and being locked to any available stationary object. Sometimes they aren’t locked at all (who is going to steal a kid’s bike from a school playground anyway).

I’m not sure how the momentum builds. What I do know is: I’m still seeing new faces at the bike racks every day(and they’re all smiling faces).

Thanks to all of the parents who have given biking a try. You’re doing your kids a huge favor, and hopefully you’re having some fun too!

Does anyone have Bike to School stories to share?

– Anne

1 Comment

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

Tagged Bike to School Month, kids, School, seattle

Getting Ready for Bike to School Month

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Anne | 4 comments

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 →

4 Comments

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

Tagged Bike to School Month, bike-to-school, kids, School, seattle

30 Minute Load Zone

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Anne | Leave a comment

We parked in the load zone at preschool the other day and our four year old was very concerned we’d been there for longer than 30 minutes. He really didn’t want to get a ticket.

– Anne

Family cycling

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Anne | 4 comments

Bike Portland ponders family cycling – is it the next big thing? Way to go, Marion, looks like fun.

Maybe in Portland, but Seattle has a long way to go. I’ve never seen that many bikes at either of my kids’ schools. Our schools are at the top of a hill – so that’s probably why ; – )

– Anne