Students encouraged to get on their bikes and ride to school this week

Students across Waterloo region are being encouraged to bike to school this week.

Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region is working with local school boards and municipalities to encourage students to use two wheels to get to class instead of riding in a vehicle and getting dropped off by their parents.

Louise Finlay, the project manager with active transportation for the City of Waterloo, told CBC KW's The Morning Show host Craig Norris, that the week is a chance for students to "get to experience the joy and excitement of riding a bike, enjoy the freedom of getting around on two wheels."

"It helps develop new skills and builds or continue a habit with their family or friends. And they get to know and understand their neighborhood and community better," Finlay said.

Exercise helps students get 'ready to go learn'

There are other benefits to biking backed by studies, said Janice Jim, vice president of Cycle Waterloo Region

"There's actually been scientific research that shows that participating in walking or biking to school gets [students] ready to sit down and learn at school,"  Jim told CBC News. "They're a really great way to start the day for students and parents."

Finlay agrees. She says students who have physical activities in the morning are more "alert and ready to learn."

But parents, especially those with younger kids, may still have reservations on letting their children ride their bikes to school. 

Jim says "most places are safe" for cyclists and there are plenty of ways for parents to ensure that their children are as safe as possible. One of Jim's suggestions is finding an alternative route that's not on the main roads, or has a separated bike lane or trail. 

Finlay shares a similar advice, suggesting people should plan their routes in advance and "ride it during an off-peak time to gain confidence." 

There's also the idea of the parents riding with their children and Jim suggests that parents could start their own "bike bus."

The idea is that parents can set a route based on their needs and destinations, Jim said. Just like a bus, parents and their kids can follow the route on their bikes together until they reach the end point. The group picks up kids along the way, and it gets bigger as the ride goes along. 

"A group of kids riding together with parents, it's a much safer way to do it," Jim said.

Cycling infrastructure

Finlay says there's a variety of infrastructure in place for bike riders in Waterloo. That includes road bike lanes, trail networks, and separated bike facilities.

"What that means is that we're separated from the vehicles, from the cars on the road through multi-use paths and actual barrier curbs," she said. 

In August, PeopleForBikes, an advocacy group that ranks cities across the world on how effective their bike networks are in connecting people to their destinations, ranked the City of Waterloo as number one in Ontario, and eleventh in Canada for its bike networks.

Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said the city knows it can do more to expand and improve its cycling network, "but it's wonderful to have our connected community recognized as a leader.

"We're investing in cycling lanes and in safety, because people want to bike, and we want to make sure they can get where they want to go," McCabe said.

As for Kitchener, Jim says the Bike to School celebration is the city's way of celebrating their completed downtown grid network. She says there's a "whole network of separated bike infrastructure" that people can use to get around the city.

Jim says she's hoping the growing cycle infrastructure in the region encourages more people to ride their bikes. 

"The point of the region and the cities building this infrastructure is allowing all ages and abilities, anyone, any age, can walk, ride a scooter, ride [an] e-bike and not be worried about being hit by a car," she said.

"Everyone can do it."

Bike to school week starts Monday, May 26 until Friday, May 30. The celebration is in the lead up to bike month, which starts in June.

Students who want to win prizes such as gift cards and cycling prize packages are urged to register through the STSWR website. Biking safety information is also available on the website.