One of the benefits of living in and around the village is that your kids can bike and walk to things independently. It comes with a lot of responsibility, because speeding traffic and a car-centric culture still rule our streets in Pittsford.
We interviewed an 11 year-old who commutes to practices, summer camps and also bikes to school part of the year (the part of the year when it isn’t dark in the morning, since school starts super early). We thought it would be fun to share his perspective on what it’s like to be a kid on a bike around here.
He uses a combination of sidewalks and the canal path for his commutes. And he said that people who are walking and running on the sidewalk are very friendly and polite to kids riding bikes on the sidewalk.
His mom used to ride with him when he wasn’t old enough to ride by himself. Then she would ride one way and he’d ride home by himself. Now he does it all on his own.
How does it feel to commute by yourself by bike?
Empowering and like I am helping the world by not using fossil fuels.
How long is your typical commute?
15-30 minutes each way, depending on where I’m going.
What are the most difficult parts of your ride?
Biking up 3 different hills to school.
Getting on the canal path without getting hit by a car.
What do you like about riding to school?
I don’t have to rely on the bus to be on time and it gives my day a positive start.
What traffic safety rules do you follow?
The crosswalk signals at the intersections.
Making sure the street I’m crossing is clear. If not, I have to signal to the driver to make sure I don’t get run over.
Turn on my bike lights if it’s getting dark or early in the morning.
Wearing a helmet.
What are some of the challenges of riding on the sidewalk?
Unkempt sidewalks, no sidewalks at some places and sometimes the sidewalks just end.
At intersections with lights, you have to be 100% sure that cars have stopped — even if you have the signal — because people sometimes run red lights.
It takes a really long time for people to stop and they don’t seem to notice bikers while they are in cars.
How is the bike parking once you get there?
School: “There are plenty of bike racks. And I get there early so I have plenty of choices. Walking out of school last week, there were about 7 bikes on each rack.”
Camp/practices: “There aren’t usually bike racks, so I lock my bike to a tree.”
Will you be riding for Bike to School Day on May 9th?
My school isn’t officially participating in Bike to School Day, but a group of us will be riding together that morning. I think a couple of my teachers are coming too!
Anything else you want to tell us?
Biking is awesome.
