About the Bike to School Day Committee
SF Bike to School Day is organized by interested parents, teachers and schools staff at individual schools. We provide resources like rider souvenir bags – similar to the regional Bike to Work Day event held each May. We also build support and enthusiasm for the event with a poster contest and helping schools put on their events by providing posters, posting their ride routes or contact information and cheering for the next generation of safe and smart cyclists. SF Bike to School Day is now an official “Encouragement” activity of the the San Francisco Safe Route to School Program.
The necessity for a citywide San Francisco Bike to School Day was clear to Presidio YMCA Bike (YBIKE) Program program coordinator Ben Caldwell in 2008. With his tireless leadership and through collaboration, the first citywide San Francisco Bike to School Day was launched on May 28th, 2009 with approximately 500 students from 25 schools participating. In its second year, we doubled our participation to 1000 students.
SF Bike to School Day is now a Safe Routes to School “Encouragement Activity”- giving students and families across San Francisco a fun and engaging way to try out healthy and safe ways to get to and from school. Since 2010, Jason Serafino-Agar, Safe Routes to School Coordinator at the SF Bicycle Coalition is leading the team effort.