A Tuesday night meeting touted the benefits for cities that are becoming more bike-friendly.
GoBikeBuffalo sponsored the event in Bennett Park Montessori School in a neighborhood dominated by heavily traveled Clinton and William Streets.
Executive Director Justin Booth says there are a lot of things that can be done to make it safer to bicycle or walk in that neighborhood and encourage those students who can to ride or walk to school. He admits that is easier in some neighborhoods than others and many kids are bused cross-town to their schools, making it difficult.
Booth says kids and parents are being encouraged to bike, especially in communities like Hamlin Park where a lot of students live in the neighborhood.
"We're also doing this program at School 74 with Councilmember [Demone] Smith and that probably has the highest percentage of kids that are labeled as non-bus takers," Booth said.
"We're doing a number of initiatives up there as part of this program as well as School 32 where we're going to do a recycle a bicycle program as part of technology classes where kids will get to build and repair their own bicycles. We'll teach them to properly ride in the street."
Last night's meeting was encouraged by Councilmember Darius Pridgen who says it's part of an effort for inner city residents looking for more healthy lifestyles.
