[Press Release] : PedNet piloting the Bike Train program

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia’s Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007

CONTACT: Ian Thomas
 PedNet Coalition
Executive Director
(573) 445-2928
ian at pednet.org 

PedNet piloting the Bike Train program
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - The Walking School Bus program has been such a
success that the PedNet Coalition is now piloting the bike version-the
Bike Train program.  Columbia’s Bike Train is one of just a handful of
similar programs in the country.
	Through the end of this school year a group of four
elementary-age children and Ian Thomas, executive director of the PedNet
Coalition, are riding their bikes to and from Fairview Elementary School
one day per week. All of the participating children have completed
PedNet’s youth bicycle proficiency program, Bike Pro. The concept of
the Bike Train is the same as for the Walking School Bus-an adult mentor
rides to “pick up” each of the children at their homes, and they
proceed to school.  
	Riding bicycles to school is an easy way for children (and
adults) to get the 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended
by the Centers for Disease Control to maintain a healthy weight and
reduce the risk of chronic disease. Other benefits include 
- more -
PedNet piloting the Bike Train program, Page 2
reduced traffic congestion and air pollution around schools, increased
community connections, and children who are able to focus better in the
classroom. The children also benefit from intensive coaching on safe
bicycling technique while riding to and from school.
	Funding for this pilot program comes from the Active Living by
Design grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which was awarded
to the PedNet Coalition and the Columbia/Boone County Health Department
in late 2003. One of the main goals of the grant is to promote physical
activity to children and families within the area.

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php 


** Virus scanned by City of Columbia MO Spam/Virus Firewall **