Safe Routes to School Needs Volunteers

[Sue Wolling]

Hey, Bike Advocates,

I just got home from helping out with a Bike Rodeo at Howard Elementary School, and...well, it was pretty cool.  

I've always been skeptical of the value of Bike Rodeos, but this was different.  In the first place, there was a huge number of kids, and volunteers are clearly needed.  Secondly, these kids were in an after-school program for disadvantaged kids--the kind who probably don't have a parent with the resources to spend time with them teaching them to ride a bike.  And third, the combination of "Strider Bikes", kid-sized pedal bikes, and a little time for one-on-one coaching and encouragement gave us the chance to actually teach some kids to ride a bike in one afternoon.  Some of the kids could already ride, and some of them need a lot more practice before they'll get the hang of it--but a handful of kids went from "I can't ride a bike" to actually pedaling around the playground with that beaming face that reminds you of the joy you felt when you first learned to ride a bike (and hopefully, still feel on your bike now).  It was wonderful to see these kids succeed in riding a bike for the first time.

I don't know if all of the Safe Routes events are like this--but I had a great afternoon.  If you're interested in helping out, I encourage you to give Sarah Mazze a call: 

Safe Routes to School is looking for volunteers to help with fall events! Thanks for letting Sarah Mazze know at 541 516-0887 or maz...@4j.lane.edu if you can make any of these! No experience needed for any of these; you can get briefed at the event if you show up 15+ minutes early.    Bike Rodeos (times listed are actual event - come early to help setup and get briefed on your role/stay late to help take-down). We send kids through a bike skills course, help not-yet-riders learn to ride, and pedal-power smoothies. Friday, Oct 4th, time TBD between 8am-1pm at Twin Oaks Elementary Tuesday, Oct 8th, 2:30-4:00 at Howard Elementary Thursday, Oct 17th, 3-4:30 at Adams Elementary Community Rides Follow this link to see loads of community rides throughout Eugene! These cap off 2-week Bike Safety classes for 5th and 6th grade students. Ride around the neighborhood and see the kids show off their new skills! Walk & Roll to School events Wednesdays Oct 2nd, 9th and 16th, various schools around 4J will be celebrating Walk & Roll to School day with school-wide walks and bike rides. Chaperone a walk or help with giving out raffle tickets and high fives out front of a school. Contact me (Sarah Mazze) at maz...@4j.lane.edu or (541) 516-0887 and we'll figure out which matches your schedule and location.

[Duncan Rhodes]

Yes Sue, the safe Routes to school operation is very good. I would be helping, except I have a problem with my prostate and have a Foley catheter attached. 

One thing I’ve been trying to get safe Routes to school doing for the last few years is to have a mailing list to invite volunteers. They used to do this in the past, but they appear to of stopped this practice the last few years. I used to get emails saying that there were rides coming up on such and such a date for a particular school, and you would go to the website to volunteer. I no longer get those emails.

They would be well advised to reestablish this mailing list to get volunteers.

Best regards, Duncan 

On Oct 8, 2019, at 7:07 PM, Sue Wolling <sue.w...@gmail.com> wrote:



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