Wyatt Varashupe and Gary McCulley usually walk the short distance from their homes to Walnut Grove Elementary School.
But on Wednesday morning, the fourth-grader and fifth-grader, respectively. pulled their bicycles out of their garages, strapped on their helmets and pedaled to school.
“We rode bikes for the occasion,” said Gary, 11.
The occasion was National Bike to School Day. Clark County Public Health and Safe Kids Clark County teamed up with several local elementary schools to encourage kids to walk or bike to school and to educate young riders and walkers about traffic safety.
“If we can make it safe for them to walk and bike to school, we increase their opportunities for physical activity,” said Anne Johnston, a public health nurse and Safe Kids coalition coordinator.
“If they don’t feel safe, they’re not going to do it,” she added. “If they’re out doing it, we want them to be safe.”
Students who arrived at Walnut Grove by bike or foot on Wednesday morning were greeted by Vancouver City Councilors Alishia Topper and Anne McEnerny-Ogle and public health staff — all wearing bright yellow or orange reflective vests.
Topper quizzed students about their traffic safety practices — “Did you look both ways before crossing the street?” — and showed kids the proper hand signals to use while riding their bikes. McEnerny-Ogle helped kids write safety messages — “We need more sidewalks” and “We need more people slowing down,” for example — and add their names to a declaration urging policymakers to take action to keep kids safe on the roads.
Traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FedEx employees were also on hand Wednesday morning with one of their trucks. They showed the students how difficult it is for drivers of big vehicles to see pedestrians and bicyclists by having the kids sit in the truck and look in the mirrors while others stood behind the truck.
The students who walked or rode their bikes to school also walked away with some prizes: reflective bands to wear on their ankles or wrists and small water bottles.
As kids rolled onto the school grounds on their bicycles and scooters, Johnston and the other health officials reminded them that helmets should be worn while riding. Most of the kids on bikes wore helmets, but scooter riders weren’t as diligent.
Wyatt and Gary wore their helmets while they rode to school and said they always have protection for their heads.
“We know it’s the law,” Gary said. “And if we fall, we could crack our head open.”
The boys also know that drivers don’t always pay attention to pedestrians and cyclists. Hit-and-run incidents that occurred nearby are proof, Gary said.
“Just be safe while crossing the street because there are some people out there who just don’t care,” he said.
The school is situated between a couple of scary intersections, said Walnut Grove Principal Esteban Delgadillo. Just recently, a car zipped past a crossing guard who had her flag out to allow students to cross, he said. In addition, only part of Northeast 72nd Avenue has crosswalks, he said.
Delgadillo hopes Wednesday’s event and the growing number of kids on the road as the weather improves will serve as reminders to drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists. He also hopes it will encourage more kids, and their parents, to commute by foot or on two wheels.
“It’s promoting the safety piece, but also promoting the health piece,” Delgadillo said. “Get off the iPhones and iPads and get outside and play.”
