The City of Santa Monica’s Safe Routes to School Program partnered with the McKinley Elementary School sustainability and beautification committee and Santa Monica Spoke (a local bike advocacy group) to host more than 600 attendees at the Family Bike Festival held on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015.
Adults and children converged on the McKinley campus sporting bikes of all sizes, proper helmets and great attitudes, even in the light rain.
Everyone enjoyed the free bike safety skills training, face painting, a giant inflatable slide, rock wall, cargo bike demos, games, raffles and sponsor booths with snacks, bike safety brochures, bike trail maps and information about the new City of Santa Monica Breeze Bike Share program: www.santamonicabikeshare.com.
Mayor Kevin McKeown made a special appearance to award McKinley Elementary with the City’s new “Bike It! Walk It! Bus It!” trophy for achieving a 77% participation rate during October.
Most Santa Monica-Malibu School District schools also participated in the annual program.
“Bike It! Walk It! day is an integral part of McKinley’s school community,” Susan Yakich, McKinley principal, said. “It’s important to encourage healthy living and being fit. Bike It! Walk It! day is a good reminder to all of us to not only live a healthy life style, but also to work together as a community to preserve our earth and it’s natural resources.”
McKinley has an active sustainability and beautification committee made up of parents and staff who promote sustainability efforts throughout the year and are a strong advocate for Bike It! Walk It! day. The McKinley school community joined forces with the City of Santa Monica and Santa Monica Spokes to plan this event. Together with generous donations from community businesses, they were able to bring this amazing festival to McKinley.
