Hey everyone,
So I took some time today and copied down all the responses I got from students at the Detroit School for the Performing Arts to the question:
Why don’t you bike to school?
Here is a brief run down of their responses:
- Total number of responses – 50
- “Too far”, “Long ride” or distance related – 14
- “Get a ride to school” – 12 (only 2 mentioned riding the bus)
- Misc or not serious answers – 7 (including “I have too much swagg” or “Because…” maybe those are serious, I just need a little more info)
- “Don’t have a bike” – 7
- “Not enough time”/”Get tired” – 4
- “Don’t like bikes” – 4 (including 3 uses of the word “lame”)
- Bike was stolen or fear of it getting stolen – 3
- “I don’t know how” – 3
- “Dangerous/unsafe” – 2
- Weather – 1
- “I ride my sk8board” – 1
- I DO! – 1
Some students gave multiple reasons in their answers so don’t expect everything to add up to 50 real nicely.
The large respondents of students that live too far away and get rides may just be the reality of living in a large spread out city. I have to admit that when I was a teenager, I tried to get a ride to school and I only lived a mile away. I totally could have used a place like Back Alley Bikes instead of where I was hanging out instead. But alas, I didn’t start riding until I was in college.
So I can’t really blame these students that live 10 miles or more away from the school they go to. Detroit School for the Arts is a school you apply and audition to get in to. Not all schools are like this but with increasing numbers of charter schools and school of choice participants, the citizens of Detroit have to travel just to get the education they want. I would love to see youth riding 20 miles a day in a pack to and from school, but I can’t blame for not wanting to do that.
The question is – how many of those students getting rides are like me and really could ride? I don’t know, but sometimes you just need someone to ride with to realize it is possible.
Students that answered “don’t have a bike”, “don’t know how”, “fear of it getting stolen” or “dangerous/unsafe” need to come start hanging out down the street at our bike shop. Getting youth on bikes is what we do. Having weekly rides in the summer will improve riding confidence. Having someone explain the best way to lock you bike up will reduce the chance of it getting stolen. When you see all of your peers accomplishing the above, you will realize how riding a bike is no more dangerous or unsafe than driving a car or really sitting at home and watching television.
Hopefully in the future we can offer low cost locks to our youth so they no longer need to fear getting their bikes stolen and will be encouraged to ride. If anyone out there has a large amount of money they would like to pass along to us to purchase a large order of U-locks for our youth, or if you know someone in the industry, let us know!
Oh, and that one student that answered “I DO!” Come hang out with us. I might be able to get you a job here.
– jason x