18 Miles Per Hour

SCHOOL LESSON #1: RIDE WITH YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

Look at that bike rack up there in the photos. I truly wish it was jam-packed with bikes but sadly, there are a ton of vacancies. We don’t want to be preachy about this – we truly, truly don’t. We just want to share just a few reasons we ride a bike to school with our kids.

Reason #1: It’s easier than driving because there’s no jockeying with the other SUVs for a nearby parking space or in the dropoff zone.

Reason #2: It’s quicker than driving. It’s a neighborhood school so most of us live within a couple miles. I routinely beat neighbors home while they sit in the Mom traffic.

Reason #3: It teaches your kids self-sufficiency. That’s a biggie.

Reason #4: It relaxes them (and you) before the day starts and burns off the extra, Capri Sun®-created energy at the end of it.

And lastly, in the true 18milesperhour spirit, when you ride a bike to school with your kids they are looking at the world around them, not at a seat-back-mounted screen, as they begin their day. If the weather is cold, they feel it’s crispness on their faces. If it’s warm, they sweat. They’re in the world. They’re present. And we’re going to do our best to keep it that way.

Give it a try just once. We think you’ll like it.

Class dismissed.