May is Walk & Bike Challenge Month: for our health and our community
A few years ago, a couple of us urbanMamas sat down with the BTA to talk about how families could be more engaged in active transportation programs. The Bike Commute Challenge, which has been happening every September for almost fifteen years now, had proven successful in encouraging employees throughout the region to bike to work.... we suggested: why not apply the same challenge to students and their commutes to their respective schools?
I guess they loved the idea, for we are now approaching the third year of the School Walk & Bike Challenge. So far, over 135 schools have registered to participate. For the entire month of May, students from across the state engage in friendly competition that encourages students to walk and bike to school.
I fully admit: the prospect of walking, biking, bussing, skipping, or getting to school withOUT the use of our family car - for the entire month - is daunting. Won't we be late to school every day? Then, won't I be late to work every day? Won't we get home later than usual, have less time for homework and dinner? Well, baby steps. It's all about the baby steps. Even just a day a week where we use active forms of transportation is a success. It all counts, even the skipping and skating to school.
With our school's system of choice, many families may attend schools that are too far to walk or bike to. Perhaps a park and ride system could work? At one charter school, we have heard the plan of a walking school bus that will meet several blocks from school. Children can gather and walk to school together from a central meeting point. Perhaps even consider organizing a bike train, also starting from a central meeting point, so families can ride en masse together to school.
What do you think? Can you commit? Maybe once a week for the month? Or, maybe even more? We'd love to hear how you think you'll participate in the Walk & Bike Challenge.
My husband recently got his bike all cleaned up from it's winter hibernation and he has been biking with our daughter to preschool with her in the trailer. This has been a nice change for them from driving, though a few days have been pretty wet, and some others have been a bit rushed. I have a question about bike helmets if anyone has any good advice. We have several kid helmets but none of them seem to comfortably fit our daughter (3.5 yrs) or our son (10 months). Any suggestions of where to go to buy kids helmets where the staff will help us find/alter ones that fit?
Posted by: jessi dey | May 03, 2010 at 08:20 AM
Serious Juggling on NE Broadway (where bella stella used to be) has local Nutcase helmets.
Posted by: Laurel | May 03, 2010 at 06:29 PM
We walk/bike/scooter a majority of the time (unless it's super wet or we're super late).
It definitely takes longer. Getting home, especially, as it's uphill for us. But, it's a really lovely walk/bike/scoot (I walk, one bikes, the other scooters). The kids tend to keep my slower, walking pace, and we chat about their day at school.
The days we drive, we are home before I even have a chance to ask what happened at school. Then we're in the door, doing homework, folding laundry, making dinner, taking baths, reading stories, getting ready for bed...well, you know the drill.
Those 15-minutes of completely free-time, walking home from school are one of my favorite times of day with my kids.
(The walk to school is typically more hectic--generally a jog/slow run to school--and therefore not as engaging. However, the kids' teachers appreciate that they've burned off some energy before they start school.)
Posted by: tink | May 04, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Jessi--
Bike helmets are like women's jeans. Not all brands fit all people, even if they are the "right" size. So I would say go to a store that sells a couple of different brands of helmets. Look for a helmet that has a little adjuster wheel at the back--this can really help to get a secure fit. If the store's personnel aren't helpful, leave and go some place else. Make sure you time your trip for when your kids are cooperative. Fitting a helmet properly can mean 10-15 minutes of fiddling with straps and that's tough if kids are tired, hungry, or bored.
Clever Cycles has built their reputation on being family friendly, so they might be a good first stop. Community Cycling Center is also helpful although their helmet selection is not huge.
Posted by: Janice | May 04, 2010 at 01:24 PM
I try to make all my local trips be walking or biking trips. Since I work part of the time in Salem, I can't really commit to NO driving unless I call in sick every day!
Next I am trying to figure out how to bike more with 3 kids (literally) in tow. I'd better get training, and fast.
Posted by: nonlineargirl | May 06, 2010 at 10:37 AM