Supporters made bike event a big success | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 9:29 am Friday, May 22, 2015

To the editor:

Wow! What a day!

Bike to School Day 2015 lived up to its auspicious palindromic date.

As a member of Sakai’s Bike to School Committee, I’d like to thank as many as I can of the people and groups who helped make the event on May 15 a success.

At Sakai, Bob Dwyer handled the logistics of parking hundreds of bicycles as well as the construction on Sakai’s north field of a network of roads I’m told formed the Sakai family mon painted and marked with traffic signs. It even had a radar speed sign for the kids to race toward.

I believe lead Bainbridge Island School District groundskeeper, Chris Rauch, helped out with that work.

Molly and Steve Greist put up the flower-bedecked bicycle and “Friday is Bike Day” sign. Molly also led many of the practice rides held before the actual Bike to School Day and made sure we had delicious treats to distribute to cyclists.

Many thanks to Sakai PTO. Parent Dianne Stever patiently and persistently managed the recruiting of volunteers to ride with students on practice rides and on the 15th. She got other volunteers to help out at Sakai on the 15th, and she rounded up supplies, treats and prizes.

All the other members of Sakai’s Bike to School Committee, under the leadership of former principal Jo Vander Stoep, contributed to the planning and successful execution of the day’s activities.

Sakai staff and parents (Kathy Ellison, Beth Hebert, Adam Rabinowitz, Ric Moore, Steve Apel, Dan Morrow, Paul Sheets, Heidi Watson, and Olivier Defawe come to mind) rode with students, some for several weeks before Bike to School Day. This gave the young riders chances to practice safe riding and expanded the event’s impact beyond one-day.

Community members and groups also helped out.

Kitty Garrett rode practice rides and prepared bicycle treats. Paula Eber marshaled Squeaky Wheels members to escort student riders. The club also contributed snacks and treats for riders. Flying Penguin graphics made the “I bike Sakai” T-shirts that were incentives and souvenirs. Bainbridge Island Police Department officers Eric Peffer and Carla Sias and Ken Lundgren helped in planning, rode with students, monitored traffic, and provided a friendly presence for Sakai’s lunchtime riding. Graduates of BIPD Citizens’ Academy helped to welcome cyclists.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank all the Bainbridge Island motorists who drove carefully and considerately. The encouragement that gave to our young cyclists was priceless.

JIM STARRS

Sixth-grade language arts/social studies

Sakai Intermediate School