Shorewood Hills Hosts Inaugural Spokes To School Event as Part of National Bike to School Day

MADISON, Wis. - May 6, 2019 - PRLog -- On Friday, May 10 Shorewood Hills Elementary School and the surrounding community joins thousands of students, parents, school officials, and local leaders across the United States in celebrating National Bike to School Day 2019.

"The goal of the event is to raise awareness of the community, environmental, and health benefits of people-powered transportation; to foster bike and pedestrian safety and awareness; and to bring our community together to exercise and have fun while getting where we need to go," says organizer Cara Coburn Faris.

The event goes hand-in-hand with surging regional interest in establishing a network of sustainable, accessible transportation options, exemplified by the City of Madison's work on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which is currently under study.

"Many of our neighborhood residents and children regularly bike to school, nearby restaurants, local businesses, and area destinations. Madison ranks as one of the Top 10 cities in the country for bicycle commuters. We're glad for the strong bicycling tradition, and we strive to make bicycle safety a priority in our community," says Village of Shorewood Hills President Dave Benfornado.

The May 10 neighborhood event will kick-off with helmet checks hosted by parent/community volunteers at various meeting points ("spokes") throughout the Village and a bike train to Shorewood Hills Elementary School. At school, students and community participants will enjoy food and drink, bike tune-ups, and prizes, all before the bell rings.

In preparation for the Spokes to School event, on May 6 the Shorewood Hills Elementary School student ally team will lead an assembly that covers cycling safety tips and etiquette. Principal Dr. Anu Ebbe will also share a story about the challenges she faced as a child in Hyderabad, India when she endeavored to ride her bike to school.

As a school surrounded by the homes and apartments where its students live, Shorewood Hills Elementary School is a hub for sustainable community living. According to a 2015 report by the Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center, neighborhood schools encourage civic engagement and strengthen sense of place in communities. Biking to school leverages this, establishes healthy habits that can last a lifetime, reduces traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and makes streets safer and more accessible.

In addition to proven health and wellness benefits, bicycling to school is just plain fun! Spokes to School hopes to continue to encourage families to hop on a bike, or to hit the pavement in some other form, when getting to school or nearby destinations.

Dr. Ebbe notes, "We are fortunate our school is at the heart of our community, where most children have the proximity – and opportunity - to choose biking as a fun, healthy way to get to school."

The Village of Shorewood Hills would like to thank Willy Street Co-op, Machinery Row Bicycles, Neff Cycle Service, Caribou Coffee & Einstein Bros. Bagels, EVP Coffee, Bagels Forever, Dunkin' Donuts, Trader Joe's, and BIOFerm Energy Systems for their generous support of the event. To learn more about the events and locations of schools participating in Bike to School Day 2019, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org .