On weekday mornings, if you frequent the separated trail along Middle Road in Bettendorf, you’ve probably seen him.
He’s the one with black rectangular-frame glasses pedaling south — typically before 7 a.m. — toward Pleasant Valley High School. While most of his classmates drive to school, Sam Lundry opts to ride his bike most days.
“I like being able to exercise before school,” said Lundry, whose commute from his family’s home near the 53rd Avenue roundabout in Bettendorf stretches about two miles. “It helps you wake up a bit, and once you get a routine going, it’s not too bad.”
May 4 marks National Bike to School Day, and while some students such as Pleasant Valley's Lundry don’t need a reminder to get out and ride, area educators and cycling enthusiasts are encouraging parents to let their kids transport themselves to school on Wednesday.
Troy Carter, Safe Routes to School director for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said biking or walking to school delivers numerous benefits, including increased student achievement and physical activity.
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