Tigard students participate in National Bike to School Day

TIGARD, Ore. – Students gathered in small groups on street corners in Tigard Wednesday morning to take part in National Bike to School Day.

At Templeton Elementary School, the event is organized by city leaders who work with local police to plan the routes to the area’s elementary and middle schools. It’s part of the city’s “Safe Routes to Schools” initiative, which exists in other parts of Oregon as well.

The National campaign of a “Walk to School” day started in 1997, the biking idea began in 2012. Both are coordinated by the non-profit, “National Center for Safe Routes to Schools.” The City of Tigard and the Tigard-Tualatin School District does this twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring.

In 2017, many parents chose to let their children ride their bicycles to school instead of taking the bus or driving.

At Templeton Elementary School, families have embraced the idea.

“We actually have some families that have made a commitment to walk and bike to school on a regular basis. Then, when we do our national day, we get everybody,” said Carrie Ferguson, principal of Templeton Elementary School.

Bettina Magowan is a P.E. teacher at Durham Elementary, and believes these days of activity are very important to the students.

“Because they have a really long school day, they do not get enough movement and exercise. I, at least, think so,” she said.

She’s biking to her school for this event and would love for people to leave their cars at home more often. She’s knows that parents with busy schedules can’t do this all the time, so she’d like to see more groups organized with parent chaperones. Especially, if they’re worried about kids walking to school alone. She believes the regular activity would be good not only for kid’s physical, but also their mental health.

“I think it’s also important for the kids to feel good about themselves that they can go out and walk by themselves. It gives them self-confidence," Magowan said.

Parents, like Jen Waller, see it as a great family activity.

“For us, it’s just a good healthy activity to get up and do in the morning. And not using cars, I guess, as well," she said.

Ella Eberhart, a second grade student at Durham Elementary School, said she was using the opportunity to get the hang of her new bike.

“I got a new bike, it’s a mountain bike, and it’s hard to control and hurts my hands to stop because I have to press hard,” she said, adding, “I need some more practice.”

But she knows she can't go anywhere without a helmet.

“Because you could fall off, and then you could break your head," she said.

Organizers expect a couple hundred students with parents in tow will participate Wednesday.

The “walking school buses,” or groups of kids and parents, will head out from designated locations and arrive at school before the bell rings.

National Bike to School Day is celebrated every May, but they’re also encouraging students to walk. Walk to School Day is in October.