Archive for the ‘Family biking’ Category

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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 »

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 »

Melissa and her kids love biking to school and work

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 by

Commuter(s): Melissa Smith and her kids, Alden and Elizabeth
Employer/Commute Challenge Team: Jamestown Tribal Center employees
Years participated: This will be her second Commute Challenge

Sometimes, a simple invitation to try something new can have a significant impact in your life.

Melissa Smith started biking to work during last year's Commute Challenge.

For Melissa Smith and her children, ages 6 and 10, that invitation came a year ago, when a coworker invited her to join the Commute Challenge for some friendly competition.

“My children were happy to participate in biking to school with me in the mornings,” said Melissa. “Biking with my kids has always been a fun activity for us.  We had biked around the Pacific Northwest many other times but last year was our first time commuting to work and school.”

Melissa said because they live in the small town of Sequim, Wash., her commute is short and she feels safe riding with her kids.

“The commute to my work is about three miles and has bike paths located on the roadway.  There are crossing guards at the one busy street to get to the kids’ school, who are always very helpful in getting us across to the other side in the busy school morning traffic,” she said. “I have always felt safe when biking with them to school.”

Additionally, Melissa found that biking to school and work is convenient and simpler than most people think.

“[At the school,] we lock their bikes together and I continue on from there to my work, which is not far from their school,” she said. “When I get off at 5 p.m., I bike to their daycare, which is on the same block as their school, we walk over to get their bikes from school and get home by dinner time.”

Alden, 6, and Elizabeth, 10, love biking to school.

The family had so much participating in the challenge that Bike Month has become a new tradition for the family.

“My goal for bike month will be to once again ride to and from school and work with my children. In addition to that, I’m going to add fun outing rides to other places in our town where we would normally drive to,” said Melissa. “We love biking to our destinations!  I am so thankful to [my colleague] for turning me on to Bike Month and talking me into participating.”

This year, Melissa is paying it forward by serving as a Commute Challenge team captain and inspiring other people to start bike commuting. She plans to recruit colleagues through spreading around flyers and creating a Facebook page.

“Sharing my own personal story from last year – and mentioning how much my children enjoy it – will help people see that it really is simpler than some people might think,” said Melissa.  “If they just try it once, I know they will love it, just like we do!”

 

Are you signed up for the Commute Challenge presented by Adobe yet? Join today and discover the simple joy of bicycling yourself!

Posted in Bike Month, Commute Challenge, Commuting, Events, Family biking, Kids on bikes | 2 Comments »

Family Biking is here!

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 by

Would you like to ride with your kids? Learn what kids need to know or teach your child to ride a bike? Or would you simply like to ride with other families? Cascade’s new Family Biking Program focuses on encouraging more families and kids to ride bikes.

Wrangle the kids and roll on over to our four-part Family Biking Education Events at Magnuson Park.

All events will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays in April, June and September:

Learn 2 Ride for All Ages
Sunday, April 7
$10 per learner

Parents, assist your child in learning the basics of how to ride a bike using our tried and true method. Or, if you never learned as a child, come learn yourself.


Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups
Sunday, April 14
$20 per family

Our big bike rodeo is fun for all ages and has practical skills too! In addition to negotiating the “driveway ride out,” looking back while riding in a straight line, signaling and passing, we’ll have the “chicken dodge,” teeter-totter and flower slalom. Everybody plays – come out and show ‘em your excellent biking skills.


Family Biking Skills
Sunday, April 21
$20 per family

Teach your kids to ride on safe streets. Children and parents learn key aspects of riding bikes to school or around town. Learn how children “see” traffic and what parents need to know according to a child’s age and development level.

Family Ride

Sunday, April 28
Free!

Ride with other families, get to know one another, and have a blast!

 

Looking ahead:

June sessions

June 2: Learn 2 Ride 4 All Ages – $10 per learner
June 9:  Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups – $20 per family
June 16:  Family Biking Skills – $20 per family
June 23: Family Ride – Free!

September sessions

Sept. 8: Learn 2 Ride 4 All Ages – $10 per learner
Sept. 15: Bike Feats-of-Skill for Kids and Grown-ups – $20 per family
Sept. 22 : Family Biking Skills – $20 per family
Sept. 29 : Family Ride – Free!

Sign up today!

Posted in Education, Family biking, Women ride bikes | 7 Comments »

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