Students from Cold Springs Middle School, along with Gomm and Van Gorder elementary schools were winners of the recent “Rack ‘Em Up” bicycle rack decorating contest.
Winning schools received a portion of $1,800 in gift cards from Scheels All-Sports. A “Tour de Safety” was also held at Cold Springs Middle School.
Thousands of Washoe County School District students and staff took part in “Bike Week” last month. Contests, competitions, and activities at schools and across the area drew attention to the benefits of riding bicycles.
“We encourage our students and staff members to engage in healthy physical activities every day,” said school police officer Rojer Markesen, who also represents Safe Routes to School. “One great way to get exercise and spend time outdoors in the fresh air is to ride bikes back and forth to school or work. We are partnering with a number of businesses and community agencies during Bike Week, and we look forward to this year’s events.”
Safe Routes to School is a public health effort that came to the United States from Europe in the 1990s to increase biking and walking to school among children.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, about half of all American students walked or biked to and from school 50 years ago. Today, more than half of children are transported to and from school in private automobiles, about 25 percent ride school buses and fewer than 15 percent walk or ride bicycles.
As part of the partnerships with area agencies, school police took the opportunity during Bike Week to teach students about bicycle and traffic safety, provide safety equipment to students, and participate in the Ride for Reading, which promotes literacy among students.
ON THE WEB
Safe Routes to School: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org
Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance: www.bikewashoe.org
