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News, Samohi, Health, Fitness, Santa Monica, Education, Santa Monica-malibu School District (smmusd), Biking
Bike It Day Spreads to Middle Schools
Biking Program Encourages Students to Wheel to School
Posted Jun. 2, 2011, 3:23 am
Spencer Lee / Videographer
For three years, Santa Monica High School (SaMoHi) has held a day where the SaMoHi Solar Alliance ask the student body to bike to school.
On Wednesday, co-presidents Charlotte Biren and Jenna Perelman were not only more active but also more lenient.
Biren and Perelman reached out to help other schools, like John Adams Middle School (JAMS) and Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse (SMASH), start the program at their school. Students were encouraged to bike, walk, use a scooter or take the bus. Carpooling was also acceptable.
Perelman said the event has grown a lot at SaMoHi, where almost half of the student body participates in alternative transportation. Organizers at SMASH felt they could match that percentage and are hoping to increase the number of days for the event from twice or three times a year like SaMoHi to once a month.
Comments
Jun. 2, 2011, 11:35:55 am
scott said...
Why aren*t kids being encouraged to ride to school every day? Aren*t there over 300 days of sunshine in Santa Monica?
Jun. 4, 2011, 5:24:16 pm
Al-B said...
Great idea! However, we need more safer bike lanes.
Jun. 5, 2011, 5:47:59 pm
Alison Kendall said...
Great video showcasing Santa Monica students and their leadership in encouraging healthier ways of getting to school. It's been exciting to see Bike It! Day go from 70 bikes to over 700, with hundreds more kids walking and taking the bus.
Jun. 19, 2011, 7:38:54 pm
Michael Cahn said...
Yesterday we had news that President Barack Obama has awarded a Presidential Commendation to Samohi Juniors Jenna Perelman and Charlotte Biren for their leadership of the Bike It! Day movement. The US Environmental Protection Agency described their work as " inspiring" and "motivating others through their example". Jenna and Charlotte are co-presidents of the Samohi Solar Alliance, the largest student club at Samohi. Bike It! Day has spread to every school in Santa Monica and is now California's leading environmental bicycle event. http://www.bike-it-day.org/2011/06/obamas-bicycle-in-santa-monica.html