By Angela Eaton, Round Rock ISD parent

Thank goodness for Texas Bicycle Coalition! I have a daughter who started Kindergarten this year at Kathy Caraway Elementary in Round Rock ISD in Austin. I was excited for the start of school because it would give us the chance to walk to school—a chance for good exercise and time together. I assumed that most of my neighbors would also walk, but I was surprised to learn that driving to school was more commonplace, even for people who live less than a half-mile from school!

Throughout the school year, I tried to rally my immediate neighbors, but only gathered one other loyal walker. Because I believe in all the benefits of walking and biking to school, I was searching the Internet for more ideas on how to promote the habit to other families. Then I came across the Texas Bicycle Coalition’s website and information about the Texas Bike & Walk to School Day that was coming up in less than three weeks! This was just the thing I needed to promote awareness and in a way, nag parents into doing the right thing.

The resources that the Coalition made available on their website were invaluable, especially since I had such a short turnaround to pull off the event. I immediately got the Backpack Flyer copied to send home with all the kids. Then I worked with the school’s news crew to announce the event, with the help of the sample loudspeaker announcements from the Coalition. Then I turned to local business to solicit prizes, again with the help of the sample donation letter from the BikeTexas website. Because of the short turnaround time, this letter really helped me get things done quickly.

I received a number of great prizes, all somehow related to fitness and biking, including a grand prize of two VIP guest passes and two rock climbing sessions at a great local gym, Lifetime Fitness. I loved that this was the grand prize because their message is to incorporate fitness throughout our daily lives for a “lifetime,” which is right in line with instilling the habit of biking or walking to school. We also received a large donation of water bottles from a local bike shop, Buck’s Bikes.

The school officials and I were thrilled at the turnout for the event. The bike racks were jam packed and the crossing guards got a good workout! We handed out raffle tickets to the kids who biked or walked to school and then immediately drew the numbers on the morning news cast. Apparently all the kids were anxiously awaiting their number to be called and it made for a fun morning.

My personal greatest success was educating parents as to the fact that helping their kids bike or walk to school doesn’t necessarily require that much more effort on their part, which I think is a common misconception and an obstacle to overcome. I made signs at our welcome table trying to appeal specifically to the parents. They read: “Hey Parents! Tired of the morning grind? Here’s the secret… Start a walking school bus or bike train. Get together with your neighbors and take turns walking or biking to school. They get the exercise and YOU get the day off!”

I’m going to continue this effort by explaining these concepts in the school newsletters because in my mind, parents are often the limiting factor because it is easier for them to get the kids in the car.