Bike Everywhere Month | Seattle students bike to school events recap!

Genesee Hill Elementary was booming with bikers as the school celebrated the start of Bike Everywhere Month and students developed their biking skills. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Editor’s Note (June 15, 2022): We added a photo and quote from a parent of a student at Hazel Wolf K-12 school in Seattle alongside other Bike to School event photos and information.

Summary:

As part of Bike Everywhere Month 2022, Seattle students recently participated in bike to school events, which are featured in this blog post.
Please read on to learn more, or click on the links below to drop down to a specific school’s highlight.
West Woodland Elementary school
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 school
Eckstein Middle school
Lafayette Elementary school
Pathfinder K-8 school
Hazel Wolf K-12 school

As we recently highlighted, May is Bike Everywhere Month, and Seattle students have been biking to school – a healthy, active, and environmentally-friendly way to get to class. For years, we have worked closely with Seattle Public Schools to support and advance the Safe Routes to School program in Seattle.

Please read on for a brief recap and photos of Seattle students pedaling to their schools all across the city last week – great work, everyone! Thank you to Seattle Public Schools for your support and partnership on this important effort, and to all the students, families, volunteers, and staff members who participated in the bike events.

Biking in the rain at the West Woodland Elementary Bike Rodeo on May 15

The rain was persistent and so were the kids at the Bike Rodeo at West Woodland Elementary! This is an annual event that families were happy to see return after COVID-19-related restrictions during the past two years. Over 60 kids showed up with great enthusiasm to ride. They practiced their skills at 6 stations staffed by Ballard High School volunteers, and many participants stopped by the bike repair and bike decorating tents.

One parent, Emily Guist, obtained a Seattle Department of Transportation permit to close two blocks next to the school to traffic so riders could safely practice stopping and looking both ways on the street. Kids left with stickers, apples, and some new and improved skills.

A student practices her bike skills in the rain. Photo credit: Emily Guist.

Louisa Boren STEM K-8 School celebrates Bike to School Day in West Seattle on May 18

For the annual Bike to School Day event, parent Joe Laubach organized a ride from Greg Davis Park to Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in West Seattle. It was rainy and wet, but the students were happy to ride in a group together to school. Principal Ben Ostrom congratulated the riders as they arrived.

Students brave the Seattle rain to pedal into school at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 School. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Pancake breakfast to celebrate 32 Eckstein Middle School bikers on May 19

Eckstein Middle School parents and volunteers picked up the pancake breakfast tradition once again after a 3-year hiatus. They welcomed 32 students (plus a handful of staff members) on all types of bikes – with backpacks, musical instruments, and lunches in tow.

Mindi Bohrer (pictured above) is a Physical Therapist at Eckstein who worked hard to get five adaptive bikes to include students of all abilities in the joy of riding a bike. Students in the special education classroom bike once a week on Tuesday afternoons and love it. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Eckstein students (pictured above) line up for their free pancakes and toppings served up by volunteers. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Parent Michele Solis and Science teacher Jessica Levine (pictured above) have been supporting students in biking to school for years. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Check out this video to learn why Eckstein students call Jessica the Mean Green Levine Machine Bicycle Queen. Jessica has taught at Eckstein Middle School for 18 years and she’s been engaging students in climate justice – including transportation – since she started.

Video highlighting Jessica, a Seattle Public Schools (SPS) middle school teacher who bikes everyday to work. Video credit: Commute Seattle.

75+ students pedal to Lafayette Elementary School in West Seattle on Bike Everywhere Day on May 20

More than 75 students biked and scootered to Lafayette Elementary in West Seattle on Bike Everywhere Day 2022! Kids and parents streamed in on California Ave looking proud. Parent Anthony Palmier organized the event by putting a notice in the school newsletter and was impressed with the turnout. Physical Education (PE) teacher Shawn Cudney welcomed riders with free lights and sticker giveaways.

Pathfinder K-8 School 8th graders volunteer to run their school’s Bike Everywhere Day on May 20

Students at Pathfinder K-8 are required to complete volunteer hours before they graduate and a group of eight 8th graders ran with Bike Everywhere Day as their volunteer opportunity. They created and posted flyers around the school, they went into classrooms to spread the word, and they organized snacks and giveaways for each student who arrived on wheels. About 35 students biked, and many students also walked to school.

Student volunteers chat with bike riders who participated in Bike Everywhere Day on May 20, 2022. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Bikers enjoy some snacks after riding their way to school at Pathfinder K-8 School in Seattle. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Student volunteers made flyers and posted them around their school to build interest in Bike Everywhere Day 2022. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.

Hazel Wolf K-12 Bike to School event recap

“We had a great turn out for our event. Thank you again for supporting our event with the bike lights, pencil cases and supplies. Kids were very excited about the free stuff. I already have seen more kids riding to school this past week. Our neighborhood Starbucks donated coffee, so parents stuck around to chat and it ended up being a wonderful way to connect and talk about biking and getting to school safely.”
– Ann Lipscomb, Hazel Wolf K-12 school parent & PTSA member

Students gather at the entrance to Hazel Wolf K-12 school after biking to school as part of their Bike to School event. Many students and adults are visible on the cloudy day at the entrance to the school. — Students gather at the entrance to Hazel Wolf K-12 school after biking to school as part of their Bike to School event. Photo credit: Ann Lipscomb.

Many bikes parked outside the Hazel Wolf K-12 school in Seattle at the recent Bike to School event. Photo credit: Ann Lipscomb.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and had a great time working on their biking skills, while getting to school by bike. You rock!

We look forward to celebrating again next year, as well as encouraging biking and sharing bicycle resources and information throughout the year. Thanks for your interest.

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