Pedaling town
More than 150 students biked or walked to school on Friday, as part of the National Bike Month. This year's day was celebrated by hundreds of cities and towns across the country.
POLSON — Last Friday, hundreds in Polsonites walked or rode their bikes to school or work, as part of a national ongoing campaign to get more people biking.
“Biking and walking are efficient and fun ways to get the exercise you need, without having to find the extra time to work out,” said President of the League of American Bicyclists Andy Clarke.
The league has proclaimed this month National Bike Month, and last Friday National Bike to Work Day. For the last 50 years, people in cities and towns across the country have recognized this day; this was the first time Polson participated, joining the handful of cities and towns in Montana.
During a Polson City Council meeting on April 20, mayor Lou Marchello proclaimed May 15 Bike to Work Day. Several local businesses supported the event, including St. Joseph Medical Center who donated helmets, Speedwagon Bike Repair, Wal-Mart who donated bikes and Stageline Pizza.
“This is a great way to bring the community together,” said organizer Melinda Leas said.
Through Leas efforts, more than 15 local businesses sponsored the event. The Polson Police Department helped the day run smoothly by providing an escort for children crossing the Memorial Bridge under construction, and members of the Polson High School KEY Club helped students cross at busy intersections.
Sean Hart, KEY Club president, said encouraging students to bike to school helps promote outdoor activity.
“It gets kids out in the open,” Hart said.
Cherry Valley and Linderman Elementary families walked, biked and skated to school together Friday, some for the first time.
Mother Crystal Walker said that it’s a habit she might pick up, as she is recently unemployed due to the arrival of her child Ziya.
“I might start to walk Zevan to school now that I don’t have a day job,” she said of her kindergartner.
There were more than 75 children at Cherry Valley and 150 children at Linderman Elementary who participated, not including parents and siblings. The class with the highest number of bikers/walkers at each school won a pizza party from Stageline. Congratulations Mrs. McCrumb’s and Mrs. Stobie’s classes!
“It was a great success,” Leas said, “better than anticipated.”
Students ate a light breakfast at the schools, where prize drawings of bikes, helmets, backpacks and socks also took place.
Not only did a large amounts of students participate, but about 30 employees at St. Joseph Medical Center also biked to work.
“We also know the community at large participated and do not have a count on this,” Leas said.