To the editor:

A new display just went up in the halls of Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School and it reminded me that I have many people to thank for the success of our May 16 Bike to School Day.

You recently featured the Bainbridge Island Police Department in an article that mentioned their renewed emphasis on bike patrols. Chief Hamner and his officers let their legs and wheels do the talking when they helped escort bicycle-riding students to Sakai and when they came back at lunchtime to meet and greet and help with our mini-city of bike lanes (complete with roundabout and radar speed display) set up on our north field by Bob Dwyer, one of Sakai’s PE teachers, and Chris Rauch, a Bainbridge Island School District groundskeeper.

I’d also like to thank a bevy of volunteers who helped make the day a huge success.

The Sakai Arts and Traditions Bike to School subcommittee organized things marvelously. Squeaky Wheels, in the person of Timothy Witten, provided some treats and giveaways for eager 10-, 11- and 12-year-old cyclists. Aunt Candace supplied organic caramel corn free of charge. The Gear Grinders, led by Jay Abbott, helped guide our riders to their destinations. And of course, too numerous to name parents joined their children in riding to school and helped make the day a safe celebration.

In case you’re wondering about how the students responded to all the efforts that went into Sakai’s Bike to School Day, come by the school and check out that hallway display. You will see photos of smiling Sakai students reveling in the fun and freedom of a bicycling event that many hardworking people helped make a success.

Thanks to all of you.

JIM STARRS

Sakai sixth-grade teacher