Archive for the ‘Family biking’ Category

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Loyal Heights Elementary to cap off Bike Month with bike train ride to school

Thursday, May 30th, 2013 by

Remember the bike-enthusiastic  kids in our Stories from the Road video who wanted to “go on rides everyday“?

Well, they’re capping off their Bike to School month, which had a participation rate of over 35 percent, with a bike train to school tomorrow, led by Loyal Heights Elementary principal Wayne Floyd.

Principal Floyd and teachers of Loyal Heights Elementary School will join students on a bike train to school on Friday morning.

The bike train will meet at 9:10 a.m. on NW 67th St and 26th Ave NW and will head north, picking up kids and parents along the way until it reaches the school, where they will be welcomed at a final Bike to School celebration.  This train is one of four bike trains that will arrive at Loyal Heights Elementary from each direction on Friday morning.

Posted in Around town, Bike Month, Family biking, Kids on bikes | 1 Comment »

Chime in on school road safety

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 by

Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the City of Seattle on the School Road Safety Initiative, announced by Mayor McGinn earlier this month, to increase safety on streets near schools and make it easier for children to get to and from school safely, however families choose to travel.

This initiative will include a School Road Safety Plan, which will look at the environment on streets near schools as well as the other things that involve safety, like education, enforcement, encouragement and more.

If you’re a family with children going to school in Seattle, the city would like to hear your thoughts. Please find the school road safety survey in various languages below: one of the links below. The survey should take between 6 to 10 minutes and will close on June 30.

English
Spanish – Español
Chinese – 中文
Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt
Korean – 한국의
Somali – Af Soomaliga (Luqadda af Soomaliga)
Tagalog

If you have questions about the survey, please contact SchoolRoadSafety@seattle.gov.

Posted in Advocacy, Around town, Family biking, News, Road & Trail News | No Comments »

Bike to School Day 2013 in video and photos

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 by

The energy was contagious at Bryant Elementary this morning as dozens of students, accompanied by a police escort, parents, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and Cascade staff, biked to school.

After meeting for coffee and donuts at Top Pot Doughnut on 35th Avenue NE, the bike parade made a one-mile trek south to Bryant Elementary, which together with its Northeast Seattle community has been working for many years to create an environment where it is safe, welcoming and fun to bike to school.

“Bryant is not alone,” said Julie Salanthé, Cascade’s Education Director. “There is a growing movement and interest in supporting our kids in getting to school under their own power.”

“Today is about a shared vision for our community –a vision that people of every age and ability feel safe and confident enough to ride to school and to ride in their neighborhoods,” continued Salanthé. “Cascade’s mission is “creating a better community through bicycling” but this isn’t just our mission. It’s a shared idea about our community that we all work on together, that we all participate in.”

Superintendent Banda also spoke of the importance of making it safe and fun for students to bike to school.

“In 1969, nearly half of the school-age children [in Seattle] walked or biked to school,” stated Superintendent Banda. “We need to get back to that number.”

“Today, fewer than 15 percent of kids walk and bike. Our children are less active, less independent, and less healthy, said Banda. “Research shows that kids riding or walking to school perform better in school on tasks involving concentration as compared to kids who are driven —so we need encourage more of this.”

Hoping to make walking or biking to school the first choice for families as they choose their daily transportation, Banda called on the Seattle community to make it safer for kids to get to school, by reducing the traffic chaos and conflicts near our schools each morning and afternoon. (View Banda’s full speech here.)

As many rallied at Bryant Elementary, many more were participating in dozens of events happening throughout the city. We estimate that about 3,500 kids participated in Bike to School Day events today, some trying to ride for the first time:

Alki Elementary School bike train

Bike train at Loyal Heights

Bike to School Day at Salmon Bay

Bike Ambassadors and bike-blended smoothies at Eckstein Middle School

Posted in Around town, Bike Month, Education, Events, Family biking, Kids on bikes, Photos, Video | 9 Comments »

How to be an awesome bike-commuting mama

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 by
Photo Credit: Trevor Block

Photo Credit: Trevor Block

My little girl Audrey is my  sunshine and she is my stoker. From her bicycle throne behind my saddle, she loves to slap my bum and cry “Go FASTER, Mama!”. My husband finds this hilarious.

I had been looking forward to commuting with Audrey since way before she was born. We were going to ride all over town, singing songs and waving to one and all. We were going to soak up the sun and laugh off the rain.

I was going to be an awesome bike-commuting mama.

I have toured thousands of miles by bicycle, exploring several countries and states. I have raced alongside the fierce ladies of Team Group Health. And I can confidently hold my own in downtown traffic alongside cars and trucks and buses…in high heels.

Yet despite all my experience, all my years of commuting, all my street savvy, I was not prepared for the challenges of biking with kids.

So what’s an awesome bike commuting mama to do? Here’s what I’ve learned:

- Re-consider your route. Find a route that is safer (to accommodate the precious cargo) and flatter (to accommodate the extra weight), even if it’s longer. My kid routes are sometimes a couple miles longer but way more enjoyable.

- Prepare. Pack the night before. You KNOW what it’s like getting out the door with kids.

- Allow extra time. Even with good preparation, it will take you longer to get out the door. The extra weight will slow you down a bit. And you will need to stop along the way to snack, potty, warm up and/or melt down.

- Layers. In the winter, dress kids in an extra layer than you wear (remember that they aren’t exercising). In the summer, apply sunscreen. I’ve also learned that sleeves and pants that are just a tad too long will adequately cover tender baby skin when they are seated.

- Keep it fun. Point out cool stuff along the way (kids love construction sites, nesting ducks, random soccer practice). Include a new park in your route and stop for a play break. Sing songs or play I spy along the way.

- Keep em busy. Audrey especially loved having a small toy to hold along the way. I tethered it to her seat in case she dropped it or nodded off. All the same, don’t bring great grandmother’s china doll.

 

Want to learn more? Cascade Bicycle Club offers additional resources, including our new Family Biking Program. And local blog TotCycle  offers information and organizes Kidical Mass rides around town.
Have a biking with babes tip of your own? Do tell!

Posted in Advocacy, Around town, Bike Month, Commute Challenge, Family biking, Kids on bikes, Seattle Bicycle Master Plan Update, Women ride bikes | 8 Comments »

Happy Spring Biking!

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 by

Guest post by Morgan Scherer at Familybike Seattle

The weather is (mostly) gorgeous, and I’ve even gotten to bike once or twice without bringing the raincoat along, which is always daring in Seattle. I’ve downgraded to my thinner gloves, and am enjoying pedaling all around town leading family biking classes and programs. Earlier this month, I got to teach a Learn to Ride class with Cascade Bicycle Club, and eight children came to the outdoor class, even in the pouring rain! Watching their wet faces light up with joy as they became more confident coasting and pedaling was so moving…that’s how I feel when I bike, too.

Rain couldn't keep these kids away

Please check out the calendar below for some fabulous upcoming events –some of them quite soon!

In addition to all these great events, Familybike Seattle is in the midst of incorporating as a 501(c)3 non-profit. It is an exciting and formative time; we are writing bylaws and a mission statement, forming a Board of Directors, working on a website, and creating a logo. It’s a great time to get involved behind the scenes, building and supporting the organization. Please let me know if you’re interested in being on the Board or involved in logo creation, or have a talent to offer to further the mission of decreasing barriers to bicycling for families!

Upcoming Events:

Get Started Family Biking Seminar
Saturday, April 27. 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A private residence in Rainier Beach
By donation ($5-25), includes child care

Would you like to bike more with your kids but aren’t sure how to get started? Or do you need inspiration to get out more often? Would you like the support of other local families as you take steps on your family biking journey? Come to one of our monthly Family Biking Seminars to learn about and discuss safety, goals, route planning, rain, equipment options, riding strategies, bike maintenance and more! For the last half hour we’ll go outside and try out different kinds of family bikes. And at the end of the seminar you will have your own group of co-participants to continue connecting with as you to make your next steps. This seminar is fun, inspiring and informative!

Family Bike Ride
Sunday, April 28. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Magnuson Park
Free

The final installment of this month’s Cascade/Familybike partnership. Catch the same series in June or September!

Family Bike Expo and Roll Call
Saturday, May 4. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South Lake Union Park
Free

Save the date for this cargo bike social and learning extravaganza! Keep an eye out for more details.

Mother’s Day Kidical Mass Ride
Sunday, May 12. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Free

Save the date for this pedal-powered celebration of mothers, and our collective power to create positive social and environmental change! More details TBA but it’s gonna be great.

I look forward to seeing you at some of these fantastic events. Don’t hesitate to be in touch!

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Posted in Education, Family biking | 2 Comments »

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