Bike to School Day in Sugar Land

Mother, Safe Routes to School advocate, physical therapist assistant, and BikeTexas SafeCyclist-certified Sugar Land resident Nicole Volek started "Shape Up Sugar Land" to get her community active and moving. When Bike to School Day rolled around on May 17, she was ready.

Nicole worked with local police to organize safe routes for Fort Settlement Middle School students to get to school and arranged for a police escort on May 17. The students gathered at 7:30 AM at Memorial Park in Sugar Land to ride to school together in a celebration of a healthy lifestyle and the fun of riding a bike.

Nicole says, “We are proud of the students that woke up early to participate in this event. This event reduces pollution, and promotes health and wellness to all.” Next year, Shape Up Sugar Land plans to add another school and build on the momentum from this year's event as other students see how much fun it is to ride a bike to school.

Since 1991, nearly 5000 teachers, police officers, and other professionals who work with children have been trained in the BikeTexas SafeCyclist curriculum, which they've in turn taught to their students across Texas, reaching approximately 200,000 schoolchildren per year. In addition to training teachers, BikeTexas also offers a Safe Routes to School Event Manual, so you can plan your own bike or walk to school day, or even get up a bike rodeo with the children in your neighborhood. The Event Manual offers step-by-step instructions for a fun event.

Grab your manual now and start planning for International Walk to School Day on October 9! Twenty-three schools in Texas have events scheduled already-- will yours be next? There were 120 Texas Walk to School Day schools in 2012, so we expect to see the number grow as October gets closer.

Photo credit: Randy Kozlovsky

Students left to right: Chloe Gallegos, Bailey Rivenes, Jake Parker, Vivek Sinha, Shiv Chopra, and Kelly Eng, with Sugar Land Police Officers (l to r) Anthony Clarite, Neal Kym, Adam Williams and Richard Rivera

Bikes Make Life Better: Saris Fifth-Grade Poster Contest

"Bikes Make Life Better" was the theme for the third annual Saris Cycling Group nationwide poster contest for 5th graders. Young artists competed first with their peers at their school to be the winning entry, and schools submitted their best posters to BikeTexas, the statewide coordinator for the contest, for the next round of judging: The best poster in Texas.

The 2013 Texas winner is Vijeyta from James F. Bay Elementary in Seabrook. Vijeyta is the president of the school's Student Council and a member of the Garden Club as well as the Robotics team. She loves drawing and reading. Vijeyta also loves outdoor activities, especially bike riding. For her poster, Vijeyta won a Schwinn bike, a Planet Bike bike light, and a Lazer helmet.

Vijeyta's poster went to the national level along with all the other state-level winners. BikeTexas is proud of Vijeyta for drawing such a beautiful poster and representing Texas well! Over 500 elementary schools from 27 states participated in the nationwide contest, with top honors going to Hannah Pauls from Mississippi.

"Over the past 20 years in the bike industry I have seen the bicycle positively change the lives of individuals as well as communities,” explained Saris President Chris Fortune. "In just the 3rd year [of the contest], we have already witnessed the tremendous impact this contest can have on our youth. It is one way we are able to engage kids to think about and become more aware of the bicycle and its many beneficial uses. Through this contest we hope to not only encourage fifth graders to ride their bikes more frequently, but also to form the foundation of a lifelong, healthy, active lifestyle.”

Second place in the Texas contest was Nia from Ortiz Elementary in Brownsville, and third place was Igra from Woodland Hills Elementary in Kingwood. Both of these students also received prizes for their award-winning creations.

Many thanks to the schools, teachers, and young artists who participated in the "Bikes Make Life Better" Saris poster contest! Incoming fifth graders, get ready; it will be your turn to design a poster next spring with your own new theme! 

The contest is sponsored by Saris Cycling Group, Schwinn Bicycles, Planet Bike, and Lazer.

BikeTexas KidsKup Thanks Rick Wetherald

For five years, Rick Wetherald has been a constant presence at BikeTexas KidsKups--running the races, keeping the kids' attention, and cheering for and congratulating all participants. Beginning with the Fall 2013 races, though, that spot will be filled by someone else-- Rick is moving to Utah to do post-doctorate work in kinesiology, leaving Texas and the BikeTexas KidsKup behind.

Rick's last KidsKup was May 18 at The Warda Race. BikeTexas congratulates "Doctor Rick" on his Ph.D. from Texas State, thanks him for all the kids he has inspired in his past five years with BikeTexas, and wishes him the very best in this new chapter.

One BikeTexas KidsKup Race Left This Spring

The spring KidsKup races are winding down, but there is still one more on the calendar before we pack everything away for the summer! Join us on May 18 in Warda for the final spring KidsKup!

So far in 2013, 183 young Texas racers have come to a KidsKup race to have fun, get some exercise, hone their riding skills, and make new friends! Don't miss out-- make plans to join us at the next race!

The Fall 2013 races will kick off on September 1 in Rocksprings. See the full list of fall races here.