Wednesday, day 2 of street rides. Becky reviewing hand signals while Gina gets the jerseys ready.

Thank you to all volunteers: a parent of a 5th grader, Paul, and Laura.

I rode in the park with the first Red group while Becky worked one-on-one with a student.

For the next group of students, Becky went for a ride in the park with a group of students while I stayed on campus and … hurray … got Ramon riding independently. When Becky got back, and came around the corner, Ramon set off from the opposite corner of the blacktop. Such a sweet boy, his classmates cheered him on, so did Becky. Ramon was so happy and proud.

Thursday, day 3 of street rides. Today’s team: Laura/volunteer sweep, LCIs Gina, Deanna, Pierson:

I rode with the Pierson’s red group.

A great picture to demonstrate the importance of having a sweep. This wobbly rider was far behind the rest of the red group.

at Witter Ranch Elementary, about 1.5 miles from my house. I was a volunteer sweep for street rides today. BeckyG and Deanna were the lead LCIs.

ABCQuick Check before leaving campus.

Laura was a new volunteer and I trained her by riding with her for Deanna’s yellow group.

Friday and somewhat rainy. And cold if you forgot to wear a jacket. I brought an extra rain jacket and loaned it out a couple of times.

Our intrepid team for the day: Diana, a parent volunteer who stayed for the entire day (!), Laurie, Charlie.

In front of the classroom: Pierson.

Uh-oh, a mishap at the skate park had an unfortunate result for LCI Doug – a broken ankle.

Doug’s explanation about the picture: “Weel … Scots are an optimistic people always looking for the silver lining. So here you go! I no longer need to put on kilt hose and garters just to carry my Sgian Dubh. I ken that will come in handy if I’m attacked by a wild haggis!”

The Yellow group – my favorite color – and a great group of kids each and every time.

Diana was a fantastic Sweep. An extra layer of safety.

Laurie rode Sweep for the last two classes.

at H Allen Hight Elementary, about 3 miles from my house, a 20-minute ride. Arrival time = 7:20. A tad early for this retired person. I was there for the last three days, the street rides, when four LCIs are needed.

Five 5th grade classes – on the second floor of the building, a bit of stair-climbing ahead.

Always ABCQuick Check before going for a ride. Thank you Diana, who volunteered to ride sweep for my Yellow group.

The last two street ride days were Monday and Tuesday. Rockmont Circle is one of the best streets to visit at Halloween (also Christmas and 4th of July). These cyclists learned about the 1963 Hitchcock film The Birds – they had never heard of it – how the students at Bodega Bay School were attacked. Eek!!

The end of Project Ride Smart for 2023. The program starts up again at 3 different schools in March.

at Westlake Charter School, Monday-Friday mornings. Blacktop drills on Monday and Tuesday. After-school coaching on Wednesday afternoon – a rather large group.

Such joy when a student knows he/she can ride a bike. And a few grateful parents on the sidelines.

Thursday was the first street ride. I had the blue group.

Friday was “spooky day” in one classroom.

And two of my favorite co-workers, Deanna and Gina:

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, I left at 7:30 am (just after sunrise!) and rode 4 miles to Westlake Charter School to help Deanna and Gina with the first day of blacktop drills.

ABCQuick Check:

After-school coaching on Wednesday. Only about 4 out of 15 need to come back for next week’s after-school coaching.

At Natomas Park Elementary. I volunteered to ride sweep for the street rides on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. I rode with the Yellow group, Pierson was the lead LCI. Good idea: teach “bicycle sandwich” soon after leaving campus.