I fear my thoughts here may simply add to the pile of opinions that have been thrown at parents all around the world as we face hard decisions about schooling. The concept of a 'third rail of politics' was something I learned from watching West Wing as a teen, for those unaware, the short meaning is it's a charged and untouchable topic. Bringing the concept to the modern, I think we extend it to a new forum, the third rail of social media. School re-opening is a hotbed issue and becoming a third rail itself. I have personally witnessed people who have been friends for decades argue fiercely and angrily over what they see as the appropriate path for the fall.
So let me address this with my irrefutable fact. I am not an expert.
I think that despite serious, and valid, concerns about school re-opening, a significant portion of the population is looking to return their children to the care of schools all over the country come the start of their school year. So there is a segment looking to allow for some mitigated risk. Schools may look very different for our students, or they may continue to have their education served to them virtually which was something they had a crash course in this last spring. What a true time of chaos for our teachers, students, and administration. They should be commended for the efforts they've already made and encouraged through the decisions they have to make. I have an opinion about how I would like to see school be structured for the fall, but based on surveys I've seen, I am not in the majority, nor am I in the seat where my opinion has any weight, so I will move on from this topic.
Where I do have an opinion to voice that I feel has some weight is about getting our students to school.
If/When your student(s) go back to school, I encourage all to look for a way to get them there that is healthy, safe, and clean. When COVID-19 crashed our world, it did an amazing thing, it forced people from their offices, their gyms, but most of all their habits. It was so disruptive, we began to look for alternatives. Suddenly, normally empty and quiet parks were teeming with activity. Bike Shops used to a spring rush, suddenly faced a rush estimated to be 7-10x the normal volume. Bikes still haven't returned to normal levels. Older used bikes are frequently selling for 2-3x the value they sold for in the fall. People have been faced with more time on their hands, and fewer places to spend it, so they have been going for walks, hikes, and bike rides. I myself have seen my mileage triple during this time period versus the same period for previous years. Some of the charted data below are misleading because there are years that I focused on running, or other means of exercise (or none at all) but 4 of the top 6 months from the last 72 months (about as far back as I have tracked) are months during this pandemic.
Hey buddy, none of this has to do with schools!!!
Hang on, I'm getting there.
Cycling is on the list of lower/lowest risk activities for COVID transmission. Add to that fact that the CDC has even recommended families ride bikes together during our recent reduction is social outlets as a means to ward off depression, stay fit, and encourage healthy choices. So why not also include it in the discussions about returning to school?
Every discussion I have heard so far as weighed the risk of a bus and the likely traffic of cars heading to school from parents. As a parent, the tight, and likely harder to maintain, environment of the bus presents a threat worse than the classroom. I may be wrong in my feelings, but I am not the only parent who has voiced these misgivings. So let's continue to consider what the CDC has told us to consider doing since the schools closed in the spring; Take a walk, or ride bikes as a family.
Raritan is a town that the majority of the population is within 1.5 miles by road of JFK Primary School. Many on kind roads for walking and biking. Now, there are significant obstacles for non-automotive travel for many households, namely 202. That is not something that can be solved in a month. Even as an experienced rider, crossing 202 on First Ave is something of an adventure. So I will concede that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, BUT... What if we could do something that could service 60-75% of the students in the school while making for less traffic in the parking lot and less crowding on the buses. We can!
Starting in 2016, I and a few other parents began the JFK Bike Train. A topic that I have discussed here previously. It is a wonderful way to get to school in 'tranquil' years, but in the years of chaos, a melding of fun and active transportation with CDC recommended activities for the new normal helping to stay active and fight emotional stressors.
The JFK Bike Train has traditionally been one that leaves from Freylinghusen Park on Sherman Ave, snaking its way to Thompson, Second St, Second Ave, Third, meeting the other Train leaving from Quick and Tillman, coming down First Ave to meet at Johnson, continuing on to Weis, Helene, Arnold and finally Woodmere into the JFK Lot.
Typically, Bike Train day was Tuesday because that was when parents could align their schedules to assist the students riding to and from school, however, with the new normal having more parents working from home, parent availability may increase meaning more days are possible. Bike Train may go full-time!
If you are reading this and thinking, 'I would prefer to take my child to school than have them ride the bus and the thought of driving them every day may be too much for me to handle,' maybe the bike train can be a solution. With enough participation and proper protocols, capable riders can join without their parents having to join every time. We have handled up to 18 students with 4 regular adults. It's amazing how well the students ride together and follow the rules when they are made aware of them and taught how important all of that is. So if you are considering it, please reach out to me either in the comments or on the Bike Raritan Facebook page. We're always looking for new riders and parents to join and encourage anyone who is a capable and safe rider to consider joining in on the fun.
Look here for updates.
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