Sunday, August 15, 2010

First actual ride to school, sort of


Although the first day of school hasn't yet arrived, on Friday there was a getting acquainted event, so this was our first opportunity to ride to school with an actual school-related purpose. We rode as we've done in the practice runs, modified only with the addition of Mommy joining the pack.

Ducks in a row
All went well with the ride and the event, although it's astonishing to see the quantity and size of vehicles that tend to cluster around a school when it's in use. It looks as though I have a job ahead of me, as there might have to be something done about the bike racks at the school. The racks are of an archaic wheel-bender design and seemingly mostly disused, having been sequestered far out of the way behind the school. We ended up locking to a pole at the front of the building.

The ride home was nice. I'm well aware of the shortcomings and implications of suburban land use, but it's hard not to appreciate a shaded and well-groomed path in a bucolic setting. Followed up by cold beer and tasty pizza, and you've got the makings of a great way to spend a Friday evening.
Streamers streaming
It's difficult to keep ahead of her sometimes

Gratuitous beer and pizza photo

4 comments:

  1. We live across the street from Morey Middle School and wish there were more families like yours. The motorized vehicle traffic in the mornings and afternoons is nuts!!

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  2. We're fighting the power, I guess. Hopefully all goes well when we go head to head with the car families. I have alternate procedures in case we experience too many cars. A lot has changed since my elementary school experience, when the only transport vectors were walk, bike or bus.

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  3. Good luck to Stella on her first day of kindergarten!

    Not sure what school district you're in, but are there any age-related restrictions on students riding bikes to school? Aurora Public Schools only allow 4th-5th graders to ride. Again, probably due to the massive volume of vehicles that appear at pre and post-school times.

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  4. Thanks. We're in Littleton, and as far as I'm aware there are no bike riding restrictions. The volume of cars is definitely a safety concern. However, I was encouraged to see a number of walkers and a few bikers when we went to the kindergarten assessment test this morning. K starts on Wednesday, even though the other grades started today.

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