Bike To School Day A Huge Success

Sunny skies brought out bikers at Montclair's first Bike to School Day today, a national event that is part of the Safe Routes to School program, encouraging children to walk or bike to school instead of being driven.

The students get exercise, while traffic decreases, and the kids love it. Everyone wins!

At Edgemont Elementary, bike racks were overflowing. And, even children who took the bus did a walking lap around Edgemont Park so they could participate. Everyone who biked received marigold seedlings to take home.

At Nishuane Elementary, bikers met at the Montclair Public Library, and then biked on to Nishuane. Attached is a photo of Nishuane riders, as well as one of Brian and Olivia Champeau celebrating Olivia's 8th birthday by biking on her new bike to Nishuane.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, BikeWalkMontclair hosted a Bike Safety Workshop at Hillside Elementary for all Montclair families. On hand was Montclair High School junior Michael DellaFave, who was representing Helmets4Life, a group that promotes helmet wearing. This group was founded after a young friend, who wasn't wearing a helmet, fell off his skateboard, and is now in a coma. The group hands out helmet wearing pledge forms for parents and children to sign.

They also have a lesson plan for a health or gym class, an assembly option, or a skateboarding show that demonstrates to kids that you can still be cool and wear a helmet.

At the Bike Safety Workship, BikeWalkMontclair's Paul Mickiewicz spoke while Dickson Lane demonstrated moves on the bike on stage.

Any schools interested in having their own Bike Safety Workshop, or learning more about Helmets4Life, please contact Alex Kent at akent@montclairnjusa.org.