Students ride their bikes into Reily Brown Elementary School
Dover — Biking to school helps kids stay physically active while lowering air pollution. That’s the message behind “National Bike To School Day,” which is being co-sponsored by the Delaware Department of Transportation on Thursday, May 16.
“If enough kids bike to school on a regular basis, we’ll help lower automobile emissions for the entire community. If enough kids do it, our environment will be better,” said DelDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator Sarah Coakley.
Coakley notes that National Bike To School Day is part of Bike Month, which encourages people to ride their bikes and leave their cars at home. One of the many schools participating in National Bike To School Day is W. Reily Brown Elementary School in Dover which will have groups of student bicyclists riding in to school from rendezvous points along Nathaniel Mitchell Road in Rodney Village, and from Kesselring Avenue in Mayfair. Dover Police will provide an escort to help ensure a safe ride to school.
“Safety has always been a concern for parents. Whenever there is a group of kids biking to school, we recommend that at least one adult bicycles in with them,” said Coakley.
Coakley says bicycling to school not only keeps kids physically active, but keeps them mentally sharp.
“There have been several recent studies linking physical activity to better academic performance. Kids who stay active also perform better academically,” Coakley said.
