Walk 'n Roll!

What ARE they teaching kids in school these days! Well, in a couple of Gwinnett County elementary schools--they're learning about bicycling. In the United States, learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage. But even after you master the mechanics, there's a LOT you need to know to take your show . . . well, on the road. Where are kids going to get the information they need? How are they going to feel confident about riding a bike outside of their driveway? Elementary school programs are the best possible solution.
Ready to Roll! The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) has joined forces with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the League of American Cyclists (LAB) to pilot a program called "Safe Routes to School" at a couple of local elementary schools. Mason Elementary is now in the second year of their program, and BB Harris Elementary just kicked off their program in February.
Bike Train leaves the 'hood The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is part of a national effort to help school children use alternative transportation to get to and from school and home. I’ve been lucky enough to help the ABC with their monthly event called “Walk ‘n Roll”. All Mason ES students can join in this event, and choose to either walk or cycle to and from school.
Walk or Roll . . . just do it! The Gwinnett BUG (Bicycle Users Group), a Gwinnett affiliate of ABC, has been supplying volunteers for this event since May of 2004, and for my money you can’t get a quicker charge of fun and fulfillment. If you’ve forgotten (or never got the chance to discover) how much fun riding to school can be, come on out for the Walk ‘n Roll.
Happy group at the "station" The first time I helped out, I watched as the bike train caught up with the pedestrians. You would have thought that they hadn’t seen each other for years (when it had actually only been about 4 minutes). The kids were so excited to be able to walk and ride to school!
Walk or Roll . . . just do it! I remember when my mother allowed us (finally!) to ride our bikes to school. I grew up in southern California, and attended a private school some distance from our house (I have no idea the actual distance). Anyway, there was much rejoicing in our house on that fateful day. For us, it had the feel of a papal declaration—there was no going back. We had been granted the right to ride our bikes to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary, and there was no stopping us now.
"ok, stay here. I'll be right back with my helmet" The school yard was always full of bicycles, and there was nothing that I wanted more than to park my Stingray alongside all of the others. When the day finally came that we rode out of our neighborhood, I finally understood what freedom meant. I couldn’t have articulated it then—but I couldn’t stop grinning for the entire ride! (A couple of years ago, I started commuting to work by bicycle and got that same feeling all over again)
aaaaaaahhhh . . . memories I’m glad that these school-kids are getting the chance to ride a bike or walk to school. It’s got to be a better alternative in just about every way you can imagine. The kids get a little morning and afternoon exercise and the air is less polluted because there’s fewer cars on the road. And, they get a taste of freedom. Maybe transportation alternatives will be improved in time—maybe they’ll be the ones who insist on having alternatives.
Walk 'n Roll "theme"