Bike to School Day in Fairfax

Wolftrap ES

We just received some photos from Bike to School Day taken at several Fairfax County schools. Here's an early report from Jeff Anderson:

• 80 at Wolftrap Elementary School - Principal Dr Blain, Charlie Strunk of FCDOT and Linda Watkins of Inova Safe Kids Coalition all rode w/ us.
• 50 at Marshall Road ES - Two teachers rode w/ the kids
• 40 at Oakview ES - There are 3 bikes usually and the best part was Mrs. Glazewski, the school Principal, rode her bike in from Centreville and led the bike train around the school to the bike racks!
• 25 at Louise Archer ES - Principal was happy this happened.

Marshall Rd ES

Louise Archer ES

Oakview ES

Update May 10: See a video of Wolfie's Bike Train from Vienna Patch, Video: Students Ride for National Bike to School Day. The accompanying article summarizes the day's activities.

As a bicycle instructor I would have liked to see the kids stop at the stop sign and signal before turning. With a large group like that it's difficult for each student to stop but the danger is that kids learn to roll through stop signs.

Wolftrap Elementary has made great progress regarding kids biking to school, from biking being banned at the school seven years ago to having around 70 kids biking yesterday.

I especially like the final quote from the video: "We did it mommy!"

Wolftrap Elementary bike rodeo video

Jenifer Madden has posted a good video of the Wolftrap Elementary School bike rodeo that was held on Sunday. The video is on her blog and is entitled Bike Rodeo Rustles up Kid Safety.

Trails for Youth conducted the rodeo that was paid for by a grant from Prevention Connections. Mechanics from Spokes, Etc. and bikes@vienna were on hand to check out the kid's bikes. FABB was there to hand out bike literature and discuss biking in Fairfax. FABB's Jeff Anderson, the crazy biker dad, was key to putting it together. Tomorrow he'll be leading Wolfie's Bike Train on Bike to School Day.

Bike events this weekend

• Fairfax to Vienna Metro Ride - Leaving at 9:30am Saturday from Oasis Bike Works, the ride will be a chance to follow part of the proposed bike route from GMU to Vienna Metro. RSVP.
• Vienna Bike Rack Ribbon-Cutting - 11am-1pm Saturday at Maple Ave Shopping Center, 311 E Maple Ave, Vienna. Win a Breezer bike donated by bikes@vienna. See the event flier for a list of other giveaways.
• Cancelled - Wolftrap ES Bike Rodeo on Sunday. Due to predictions of rain, the bike rodeo is rescheduled to Sunday, May 6 from 12-2pm.

See the FABB Events page for other upcoming events.