If your neighbourhood seemed to have a little less bike traffic this week, it was for good reason. All the bikes were at Alliance (see gallery).
The school opened its doors for bike drop-off last Sunday as part of its Bike Week celebration, culminating in Friday's Bike Rodeo. Hundreds of bikes were housed on school property for the week, during which students used their regularly scheduled gym time to learn about bicycle safety, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and even to learn how to ride a bicycle.
Bike Week is being capped off with a Bike Rodeo, with students employing their new knowledge of safety, and an emphasis on being active and having fun.
"It's not about racing, you get to just enjoy biking. We learned how to bike safely, use the stop, left, and right signals," fourth-grader Sophie Bywater told Baytoday.ca.
Alex Mayer, Bilingual Community Health Promoter at North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, said this was an opportunity to encourage kids "to be active on the way to school. More and more kids are being driven to school. Bike rodeos are effective ways to start conversations about proper-fitting helmets, teach hand signals, and work on basic agility."
Sixth grade student Gordie Roynon, sporting a smile from ear-to-ear expressed that the Bike Rodeo "Was really fun. We learned how to brake and turn, the signals we use on the road. Safety."
Brigitte Fiorino, Vice Principal at Alliance, pointed out that "the participation rate in Bike Week is 100%," and that this figure would not be possible without students offering to lend their bikes to other students who do not have one.
"As many as 50% of our students shared their bikes with other students," said Fiorino proudly.
"We have students who had never learned to ride a bike, or didn't have time to practice," who have had that opportunity this week.
"A NNDSB initiative has identified student activity, mental health, and nutrition, as areas that can be improved. Active transportation is so important. Students who walk or ride their bikes to school, are more likely to be successful in the classroom. Any attention deficit issues can be offset by getting the endorphins flowing early in the morning," continued Fiorino.
Another healthy lifestyle program that Alliance is promoting is a Walking Bus. The school is having a dry run for the NNDSB initiative, with groups leaving from Algonquin high school and the YMCA on Friday, June 24.
One other similar program that Fiorino and her husband, Rod Bilz are involved with is the Cycling Advocates of Nipissing. She touts this as another opportunity for community growth and active lifestyles.
"Trying to reestablish community values and relationships through these initiatives," and fostering friendships by biking and walking to school are important to educators like Fiorino.
Vanessa Beaudry, a fourth grade student, indicated that Bike Week has been invaluable for school spirit, saying "It feels great to be a part of something like this. It's fun and exciting!"
