Archive for the ‘Kids on bikes’ Category

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Alki Summer Streets this Sunday – Join the Party!

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 by

Come celebrate summer bicycling at Alki Summer Streets this Sunday, May 19.

From 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. the city of Seattle is closing down its largest public space – its streets – so people can walk, bike, roll, run, skip and shop – without having to watch out for cars.

I am particularly excited about all the fun bicycle-themed activities this year. Alki Beach Creeps will host the largest costumed bike parade in West Seattle’s 111 year history.  After the parade, West Seattle Bike Connections will run bicycle safety course for kids. Cascade Bicycle Ambassadors will be on hand to help kid’s bikes decorate and answer any and all bicycle related questions.

Here are the details:

- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bike decorating. Fun for all ages at 63rd Ave SW and Alki Ave SW on the bike path side of the street.

- 12:45 p.m.:Meet to parade down Alki to Don Armeni park. We will loop back and finish at 59th Ave SW and Alki Ave SW.

- After the parade we invite all families to stick around to try the bicycle safety course hosted by West Seattle Bike Connections.

If parading isn’t your thing, join us anyway to checkout live music, skateboarding demos, a tye-dying station and more!

Posted in Events, Kids on bikes | 2 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 and 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 »

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda will bike to school with Bryant Elementary students in celebration of National Bike to School Day

Friday, May 3rd, 2013 by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda will bike to school with Bryant Elementary students in celebration of National Bike to School Day

An estimated 3,500 kids across Seattle region will bike to school on Wednesday, May 8

 What: Bryant Elementary school students, family members and public officials to bicycle en masse to school and hold a press conference about biking to school

Who: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda, Seattle School Board President Kay Smith-Blum, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director Julie Salathé, Bryant bike to school organizers and families

When: Riders gather at Top Pot beginning at 8 a.m. Ride departs at 8:40.

Ride start point: Ride starts from Top Pot Doughnuts at 6845 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA.

Ride ending point and location of press conference: Bryant Elementary School, 3311 NE 60th St, Seattle, WA

 

A stream of Bryant students and parents riding on Bike to School Day 2012. Photo (c) carfreedays on Flickr. Click photo to view more photos from last year.

SEATTLE, MAY 3, 1013 – Following the “May is Bike to School Month” recognition at the Seattle Public School Board meeting on May 1, we are happy to announce that Superintendent José Banda will join students and families of Bryant Elementary School, School Board President Kay Smith-Blum, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director Julie Salathé and community members on a group bicycle ride to celebrate National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

The group will gather at Top Pot Doughnuts beginning at 8 a.m. and depart for the 1-mile ride to school at 8:40.

Bryant Principal Kim Fox will welcome students and families in a Bike to School Day rally and press conference to be held on the school’s playground.

“Biking to school addresses two issues that the school district faces: students’ well-being as it relates to academic achievement and transportation costs,” said Superintendent Banda. “Studies show that students who get regular exercise are more attentive in class and reach higher achievement levels. More students biking to school means lower transportation costs, which translates into more funds for our classrooms. Ultimately, supporting bicycling will help us find happier, healthier, more focused students at their desks.”

The Seattle School District has partnered with Cascade Bicycle Club to offer its Basics of Bicycling curriculum in elementary schools for the past 15 years. The program teaches bike safety to 7,300 SPS students annually.

Last year at the Bike to Work Day rally at Seattle City Hall, school board president Kay Smith-Blum made a commitment to support biking to school.

“I’m pleased to report that we’re making progress,” said Kay Smith-Blum, school board president. “The district has partnered with Cascade Bicycle Club in grant-funded programs to encourage biking to school at four elementary schools this spring. And maybe most importantly, grassroots programs are sprouting across the District. Over 25 schools have active Safe Routes to School programs with parents and other partners promoting biking and walking to school.”

“That’s a start,” Smith-Blum said. “There’s much more we look forward to accomplishing in the near future through our pending Green Building Initiative, by taking walking and biking access into account when designing school grounds.”

“The Bryant Elementary School staff has been supportive of our bike to school efforts, but it also takes committed, active parents leading the charge,” said Clint Loper, parent of students at Bryant and Eckstein Middle School and a co-founder of Walk.Bike.Schools, which was formed last year to foster collaboration among walk and bike to school organizers throughout Seattle.

Full racks at Bryant Elementary on Bike to School Day 2012. Photo (c) carfreedays on Flickr. Click photo to view more photos from last year.

“The grassroots growth in bike to school programs over these past several years has been phenomenal,” Loper said. “It is beneficial for our kids in so many ways, and they are voting with their bikes and sneakers that kid-powered commuting is their favorite way to get to school. I encourage parents at schools throughout the city to work together so we can make every corner of Seattle safe and inviting for kids to bike to school.”

“Bike to School Day is a shared vision for our community – a vision where people of every age and ability feel safe and comfortable to bicycle in their neighborhoods,” said Julie Salathé, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director.

“Next Wednesday’s event is an important signal from the district that they are committed to that vision, too,” Salathé continued. “We can already see great progress being made at individual schools and by groups like Walk.Bike.Schools. Now we are looking to our leaders to adopt policies and fund infrastructure that will make it safer and easier for kids to walk and bike to school.”

“I love seeing our bike racks full of kids’ bikes,” said Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. “It means Seattle families are making the leap and working together to make biking to school not just a hope, but a reality for more kids. However, neighborhoods are still lacking in routes that are safe enough for everyone. We need to change that. I’m committed to establishing safer school zones and neighborhood streets that work for all our residents and give them safe choices in the way they travel to schools and other local destinations.”

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Media contact:

M.J. Kelly, Cascade Bicycle Club
(206) 853-2188 m.j.kelly@cascadebicycleclub.org

Teresa Wippel, Seattle Public Schools
(206) 252-0203

About Cascade Bicycle Club

Founded in 1970, Cascade Bicycle Club is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington, serving 15,000+ members and more than half a million cyclists in the Puget Sound community. Cascade is operated by a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors, 34 professional staff and thousands of volunteers. More information about Cascade Bicycle Club’s advocacy, commute, education and riding programs is available online at http://www.cascade.org/ or by calling (206) 522-3222.
Find us online: Twitter|| Facebook || Pinterest || YouTube

 

Posted in Bike Month, Education, Kids on bikes | 8 Comments »

Gear up to Bike to School!

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 by

May is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get excited about Bike Month and sign up for the Bike to School Challenge!

Thank you, McDonald International School for sending in this photo!

For elementary school students:

Volunteer Bike to School Month coordinators at participating elementary schools will be handing out a May calendar for students to use and circle the dates that they ride to school. The more you bike to school, the cooler the prizes will be! Students who bike on Wednesday, May 8 will receive a colorful Bike to School Day bracelet. And the Elementary school that has the most NEW riders this year will win the Golden Pedal Award. If you have never participated in Bike to School Month before, you qualify as a new rider. Grab your helmet and a friend, and get in gear!

Bryant Elementary will be hosting a ride the morning of May 8, followed by speakers Superintendent Banda, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, and President Kay Smith-Blum.

 

For middle or high school students:

Middle and high school students can sign up here, and every time they log a trip to school online, it counts towards the total of their entire school, and they’re entered into a drawing for prizes! At the end of May, the school with the most trips wins the prestigious Golden Pedal award, and a bike blender party courtesy of Cascade Bicycle Club. If a student rides to school five times in the first two weeks of May, they earn a flashy “Get in Gear” t-shirt!

 

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Bike to School Day at your school, check out this list, or email Hanna at cmpa@cascadebicycleclub.org to ask about Ambassador support.

 

 

Posted in Bike Month, Kids on bikes | No Comments »

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