Bike and Roll to School Week Highlights

by Nancy Buffum, SF Bicycle Coalition

Image courtesy SF Bicycle Coalition

San Francisco’s Bike & Roll To School Week broke records again this year. From April 17 to 21, an estimated 6,000 students, parents and school staff at 93 schools. Many families discovered that biking is a convenient, efficient, and FUN way to get to school. Families traveled in “bike trains,” pre-schoolers rode child seats and family bikes, and high school students used their own pedal power to participate. Even more students joined the celebration on foot, on scooters, skateboards, strollers and public transit.  

Spotlight on Lafayette Elementary.

At Lafayette Elementary in the Outer Richmond, SF Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Brian Weidenmeier lead biking families and teachers from misty Sutro Park up Anza Street to the school. Leaders of the Safe Routes to School partner organizations welcomed students, along with District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer. Principal Heath Caceres congratulated Lafayette school parents who are making environmentally friendly, personally healthy transportation choices.

There’s one more big reason to bike to school: it helps children do better in class. “I have two very active little boys. I started biking to school as soon as the oldest entered kindergarten," says Lafayette parent Ellie Denise. "I figured his teacher would thank me! I'm a firm believer that children learn better when they get a little exercise first. Plus, they love it. It gets them out of the house in the morning."

Weekend Family Biking Events continue.

Safe Routes to School partners SF Bicycle Coalition and Presidio YBike continue to bring free family biking to San Francisco families in May at the Presidio, Sunday Streets, and school playgrounds around the city. Check the SF Bicycle Coalition for a calendar of events.

Don’t stop now! You’ve biked to school, now bike to work.

Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 11. Here’s an opportunity to go the extra mile, maybe with a family friend who also biked their children to school.

Bike & Roll to School Week is made possible by the Safe Routes to School program, funded with One Bay Area Grant funds programmed by SF County Transportation Authority. Bike & Roll to School Week is organized by the SF Bicycle Coalition. Learn more and see a list of all participating schools at San Francisco Safe Routes to School.

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

San Francisco Safe Routes to School

San Francisco Bike to Work Day