Sebastopol Safe Routes to School Program Kicks off “Sebastopol Family Rides” Series
For Immediate Release: July 13, 2009
Contact: Sarah Hadler, Safe Routes to School Assistant Program Manager
Email: sarah@bikesonoma.org
On Saturday, July 18th, the Sebastopol Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program will be leading the first in a series of Sebastopol Family Bicycle Rides, to encourage children (ages 10 and up) and parents to experience the joys of cycling for recreation and transportation. Saturday’s ride will depart from the West County Revolution Bicycle Shop (6731 Sebastopol Rd.) parking lot at 9:30 am. The route will follow the West County Trail out to Forestville and back, a round trip of about 14 miles, and return to the same location by 1pm. Participants should bring snacks for a picnic lunch, and plenty of water. Children/teens must wear helmets; helmets are strongly recommended for adults as well! If child/teen is not accompanied by a parent, a waiver must be filled out (available the morning of the ride). The pace will accommodate all levels – no one will be left behind.
The Sebastopol Family Ride series was the brainchild of the Teens Go Green Club at Brook Haven Middle School. The Teens Go Green Club is sponsored by the Sebastopol USD Safe Routes to School program, as a way to get middle school students involved in promoting walking, bicycling and other alternatives to driving in the single family car to/from school. The club’s year end activity was a 14 mile bicycle ride. On May 30th, the group rode out on the Joe Rodota Trail to Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa, had a picnic lunch and rode back. One of the participants, Keha, a 6th grader, said that he had only been riding a bike for a month! He taught himself how to ride and now rides to school every day because he “does not want to waste so much gas riding in a car!” Everyone agreed that it was a great time, a perfect opportunity for kids and their parents to gain skills and confidence, and the idea for a continuing “Family Rides” series was born….
Future Sebastopol Family Rides are scheduled for Saturday, September 12th, Saturday, October 17th and Saturday, November 14th. If there is enough interest in the July 18th Ride, another ride will be scheduled for Saturday, August 15th. The rides will always start and end in Sebastopol. Future routes will be announced soon. If you are interested in leading a ride or would like to suggest a route, please contact Sarah Hadler, Safe Routes to School Assistant Program Manager, at sarah@bikesonoma.org
Come and enjoy bicycle riding with other families in and around Sebastopol!
The Sebastopol Safe Routes to School program is funded by a Federal Safe Routes to School grant awarded to the city of Sebastopol Public Works Department, and managed by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition.
