A cool fall morning greeted Memorial High School students who ventured out to meet like-minded bike riders at 7:15 a.m. Friday for the second Bike 2 School event.
The students met at one of three designated local parks scattered throughout the neighborhoods to begin the ride and the Edmond Bicycle Committee provided adult leaders.
Rusty Fees and three other adult riders met students at Bickham-Rudkin Park, Dr. John Harkess met students at Stephenson Park and Fred Richard and four other riders met students at Hafer Park.
Although the student participant numbers didn’t quite reach last spring’s 80 students who biked to school on Bike to Work day, outside of a few flat tires, Richard said they were pleased with the enthusiasm of the students taking part in the morning ride.
Following the morning ride the students converged on the school for bagels, bananas and breakfast bars. OU Medical Center Trauma Service donated 15 helmets that were given away to student riders.
“I got the idea for this event from an article in Bicycling Magazine,” Richard said. “According to the statistics, the average 6- to 11-year-old child was 11 pounds lighter 40 years ago than they are today.”
“There are so many positive health and environmental reasons for kids and adults to be making more trips everywhere by bicycle than to continue our fatal attraction with the automobile,” Richard said. “The bicycle is one of the most efficient machines ever created.”
Richard said the number of students being driven to school each day really hit home with him as he watched a steady parade of cars coming up to the school and dropping off students.
“There is so much congestion around the schools,” Richard said.
Jan Ramseyer Fees, a city planner and member of the Edmond Bicycle Committee, said she is always looking for alternative forms of transportation for the community.
“Bicycling can provide that,” Fees said. “Not only are you getting transportation and health benefits, but it is fun.”
Student representatives of EnviroDogs assisted at the school with parking the bikes and serving the breakfast.
“The club is still looking for ways to fund a new bicycle rack for those students who prefer to ride their bicycles to school,” said Andrea Sampley, Memorial teacher and EnviroDogs staff adviser.
North and Santa Fe high schools are planning to join Memorial during the Bike 2 School day May 20, Richard said.
The third Saturday of each month a Basic Bicycling class is taught at the Edmond Al’s Bicycles. The $10 cost is returned upon showing up.
“Education and training for cyclists and motorists is the best way to improve safety in cycling,” Richard said.
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