Schools

Walk/Bike Challenge Day Five: On Bike To Work Day, New Records For Elementary Schools

Commuters, students take to the trails and sidewalks in last day of week-long celebration

The W+OD trail seemed more like a packed Maple Avenue than a peaceful recreation path this morning, as commuters from across Northern Virginia passed through Vienna

As many as 10,000 bikers were expected to bike to work across the Washington, D.C. region, many of them passing through town to get to Arlington, Downtown or Reston.

At least 50 bikers stopped on the Town Green around 7:45 a.m. this morning as dozens more passed by, enjoying bananas, larabars and coffee from Whole Foods Market, along with cycling advice  from employees at Bikes at Vienna and Spokes, Etc. The groups set up at 6 a.m. and saw tens more cyclists fill up bike racks  in what organizers called one of their best years yet.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It was also a record-breaking year for the three Vienna elementary schools that participated in the third annual Walk/Bike challenge, to see how many of them could leave their cars at home and get to school on foot instead.

A total of 644 students across three schools biked or walked to class on Friday -- a number that surpassed the week's next highest participation number by nearly 100.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wolftrap Elementary School hit a single-morning record on Friday with 89 bikers. Principal Anita Blain this morning on their last run.

Cunningham Park surpassed its week-high by 50 students, and Vienna doubled its number of bikers.

Tara MacCall, the parent organizer at Vienna Elementary School, said she wanted to continue a weekly bike train on Fridays, with a post-dropoff bike ride for the parents.

Organizers at all three schools will present awards to students in the coming weeks.

"We're always encouraging our kids to do more," MacCall said. "Hopefully we'll continue [walking and biking to school], since its spring and the weather is nice."

Friday results:


Walkers
Bikers
Total Single-Car Dropoff
Carpool
Cunningham Park 229
16 (15+1 scooter)
245
51
94 (43 cars)
Wolftrap
188
89
277 11
76 (60 cars)
Vienna
81
41
122
41 cars bring 53 kids (not clear if single or carpool)
x
Total 498
146
644 103
170

And Overall:


Monday Walkers/Bikers Tuesday Walkers/Bikers Wednesday Walkers/Bikers Thursday
Walkers/Bikers
Friday
Walkers/Bikers Total Cunningham Park 161 *(adjusted from original)
142 187 197 245 932 Wolftrap 171 136 227 210 277 1,021 Vienna 117 88 121 118* 122 593 Totals 449 366 535 525  644 2546*

The correct total has been changed to reflect revised counts on other days.


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