It’s National Bike to School Day! Here are few scenes from around town. Got photos or stories to add? Let us know in the comments below or email [email protected].
We had over 200 kids ride to Bryant today. If we had more protected bike lanes we’d have this many every day of the year. #BiketoSchoolDay https://t.co/1JdJJ80C3R
— Rob Johnson (@CMRobJohnson) May 10, 2017
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Bike to Bryant! And they just keep rolling in! pic.twitter.com/PxBKF4Ye5L
— Oralea White (@OraleaW) May 10, 2017
Here’s an idea for families who already bike (or walk) to school: Add a doughnut detour on Bike to School Day.
We like to bike to doughnuts before we bike to school on #biketoschoolday 😍🍩 pic.twitter.com/wfhBMUJeXo
— Madi Carlson (@familyride) May 10, 2017
As always, Alki Elementary kids were all over Bike to School Day:
PHOTOS: Riding to Alki Elementary on Bike to School Day 2017 https://t.co/ap5eN5IhGs pic.twitter.com/U5ntadFNG7
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattlenews) May 10, 2017
Greenwood Elementary’s killing it. And you know you’re a transportation geek dad when you collect your own school bike parking data to calculate student body mode share :-)
Happy #BiketoSchoolDay at Greenwood Elementary! 130 bikes = 33% mode share! Well done! #SEAbikes @CascadeBicycle pic.twitter.com/Io4VYGgJ3r
— Blake Trask (@BlakeTrask) May 10, 2017
And don’t forget Mercer Island:
Bike to School Day at West Mercer with MIPD here to keep kids safe! pic.twitter.com/0p6Wb236ok
— Mercer Island SD (@mercerislandsd) May 10, 2017
Bike to school day! #SEABikes pic.twitter.com/MLtbo37yuE
— mark a. foltz (@spuddybuddy) May 10, 2017
But Seattle still has a lot of work to do to make streets safe for all of our students.
South Seattle #BikeToSchool is less fun on a crap sidewalk because we will get mowed over by a driver on the road. 👍 pic.twitter.com/5ekgqOuLuY
— No Spandex Required (@NoSpandexReq) May 10, 2017
For the rest of my life, Bike to School Day will be an opportunity to remember Clint Loper, a father and dedicated community organizer who fueled Seattle’s most adorable transportation revolution. Loper passed away one year ago after a battle with cancer.
His 2013 thoughts on necessary next steps to keep growing the bike to school movement (in addition to Safe Routes to School, of course) are still great ideas:
- One obvious place to start is with bike parking. Nearly every school needs more bike racks. In fact one school noted that most of its 32 riders this past Wednesday needed to lock their bikes to a makeshift cable strung around a tree in front of the school. Seattle code prescribes bike rack requirements when schools are remodeled or newly constructed, but the requirements don’t apply to existing schools at all, and the school district hasn’t stepped up to fill that need.
- Schools also need incentive programs to get more staff riding. There is nothing as motivating for a would-be kid commuter as a teacher with her bike parked in the corner of the classroom. Many employers have commute trip reduction programs, with perks ranging from stipends to showers and lockers. This seems like a no-brainer for Seattle schools, whose staff commute patterns also influence the behaviors of our kids.
- Most schools also have chaotic drop-off zones, hazardous arterials nearby, and other local road infrastructure that needs to be improved, so the City of Seattle has an important role to play as well.
Comments
One response to “Happy Bike to School Day!”
Washington Middle School has racks to spare, there are 3 bike racks by the side entrance, but the most bikes I’ve ever seen is 8. The traffic is pretty horrible around the school, but there are many neighborhood side streets to bike on. There has to be a good way to encourage more kids to pedal.