Safe Routes at West Marin Schools

Bolinas riders

Photo: Anny Owen

Bolinas Students Ride on Thursdays

“It gets you to be alive, awake, and enthusiastic!” said Star, 5th grader at Bolinas School. “It’s muddy, splashy, you get really warmed up, hyper…and it’s really fun!” Lucian, 3rd grade “I liked the part where there was a giant stick in the middle of the path and we went over it.” Steviana, 3rd grade “It’s different from riding your car to school…its fun and gets your energy out! July (pronounced "hoo-lee"), 4th grade “its fun and it gets your energy out” Sunny, 3rd grade “It’s fun except for the time when I almost ran over Lucian” Connor, 5th grade “I got super-duper muddy all around!” Bella, 2nd grade

The bike train is growing in the Bolinas Stinson district. This year it all began with one ambitious second grader who was inspired to ride to the 3rd – 8th grade Bolinas campus early enough to park her little bike and catch the 8 am school bus around the lagoon to the K-2 Stinson Campus. Then a Stinson Beach 3rd grader began paddling across the channel with her Dad every Thursday and jumping on bikes for a multi-modal commute to school with a quick stop at the kiosk downtown for hot chocolate. Parents provide baked goodies and our group is growing.

Bolinas is a gorgeous place to ride and the bike path is mostly far away from any road. We ride on a path that was created around a series of nature ponds which are resting places for ducks, geese, egrets, great blue heron and more. We amble along and tell stories in the sparkling early morning sunshine and in sprinkling weather.

Sometimes we just ride silently for awhile and listen to the sounds of nature. That these kids are getting used to riding bikes at a young age sets them up to be strong, confident riders their whole lives.

And boy are they inspired learners when they hit the classroom: it’s all good after that ride!

Lagunitas School District Get Funding
for Crosswalk Improvements

The County of Marin has received funds from the Transportation Authority of Marin’s Safe Pathways program to install a sidewalk, curb ramps, signage and a high visibility crosswalk in front of the Lagunitas and San Geronimo Schools. The improvements will make a big difference for students trying to cross Sir Francis Drake in the morning.