Another Generation's worth of fond Cycling Memories

A few weeks ago I posted about how much fun it is to ride bikes with kids (Fun for the next generation).

• Different things that can be said with a Bicycle Bell ("Here I come!", "Hey, another bike rider!", "Good Morning!")
  
• Brakes that sound like a goose.
  
• Riding with your feet on the top tube.
  
• Finding a bottle of "Old Croak" embalming fluid at the cemetery gift shop.
  

Getting out with the kids and goofing off is just one of the many ways we can encourage the next generation to be better cyclists than we've been.

Yesterday, one of the best programs for getting kids on their bikes made their resources available to a broader public. Whether or not you have kids in school, you'll be interested to know what the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership is accomplishing and how they're doing it.

The SRTS National Partnership announced a new website yesterday that helps explain who is involved, where they are involved, what they are accomplishing and how you can help. They're working to reverse a trend that took us from 50% of kids walking or riding a bike to school in 1969 down to less than 15% today.

I think most of us know when school starts back up after the summer by the increase in traffic. SRTS has been responsible in some school districts for reducing the school car trips by 75%.

I grew up walking to school, walked and rode my bike through college, and it has stuck with me. Of course, I did get a car and drive to work soon after college, but I soon found that 1) my waist got bigger and 2) I really missed being on my bike. The fond memories of getting around on a bike helped me get back to cycling. The SRTS is working to create another generation's worth of fond cycling memories.