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Press Release: May 23, 2013

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Tracey Bradnan, 440-781-7690 or tracey@centurycycles.com
Dianna Foley, 440-356-6702 or foley.dianna@rrcs.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 23, 2013
Photos available upon request.

Rocky River students biked 14,618 miles in record-setting Bike to
School Challenge

Program concludes with praise from mayor and prizes for students, school and City of Rocky River

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst rode her bike this morning to Rocky River Middle School to celebrate the bicycling accomplishments of the students – highly appropriate considering 347 students also arrived at school by bicycle for the final day of Rocky River Bike to School Challenge.

Century Cycles’ Bike to School Challenge concluded at Rocky River Middle School today with a school-wide celebration of the students’ bicycling accomplishments by the city’s mayor, school administrators and program organizers and sponsors.

They had a lot to celebrate in a record-setting year for the popular program. In just three weeks of bicycling to school from May 6 through May 23, Rocky River Middle School students:

  • Biked 14,618 miles – the equivalent of biking over halfway around the globe and a new BTS school record;
     
  • Averaged 326 students biking per day – a new BTS record;
     
  • An impressive 52.5% of the school arrived by bike each day, another new record (up 67% from 2010’s 30% average and up 18% over last year’s 44% average);
     
  • Set a new high-ride day on May 9, when 377 RRMS students biked to school (61% of the enrollment);
     
  • Took 4,568 round-trip bicycle rides to school; · Burned an estimated 248,506 calories – or 1,775 cans of Coke;
     
  • Prevented an estimated 16,079 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from entering the environment;
     
  • And saved their parents $2,568 on gasoline, based on the current Ohio average gas price of $3.76/gallon.

“Every time I ride by the full bike racks at Rocky River Middle School, I get excited about how your bicycling is inspiring our community,” said Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst in her address to the students at the school-wide assembly this morning. “We applaud and admire your efforts. Thanks to you, we see the need for more bike racks in the city.”

Mayor Bobst now has more resources for bicycling infrastructure in Rocky River. Shortly after her remarks, BTS sponsor Raleigh Bicycles (www.raleighamerica.com) presented her with a $1,000 award for the City of Rocky River, in recognition of the community’s commitment to youth cycling and to be used to support bicycling improvements in the city.

Rocky River Middle School also won a $500 award from Raleigh Bicycles, in recognition of exceeding its bicycling goals for the year and in honor of its ongoing commitment to youth bicycling.

Winners of the random drawing for two grand prize Raleigh bicycles from main sponsor Century Cycles bicycle store (www.centurycycles.com) were 7th grader Alex Rowley and 8th grader Maurice Christopher.

Two additional Raleigh bicycles from Century Cycles were also given away for the inaugural Bike to School Challenge Photography and Prose Contest. Charlotte Weixel, a 6th grader, won the photography contest and 6th grader Sydney Williams won the prose contest. In addition to each winning a new bike, both students will have their work published in Northeast Ohio’s bicycling publication, The Great Lakes Courier (www.greatlakescourier.com), in July. In total, 114 entries were received.

The Rocky River Bike to School Challenge t-shirt design contest was won by 8th grade student Jillian Kinsley. She won a prize package, and her winning design is featured on the front of the shirt given by Century Cycles to every student who biked to school four days during the challenge.

Students won additional grand prizes donated by Subway of Rocky River, Starbucks Coffee, Rize Pizzeria, Bike Cleveland, People For Bikes, Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park, and other sponsors.

About Bike To School Challenge

Bike To School Challenge is an award-winning, three-week program that seeks to inspire over 4,000 students in Bay Village, Rocky River and Medina to bike to school as much as possible to improve their health, help the environment and have fun. The program is organized by Century Cycles bicycle store in conjunction with the schools. During it, students carry cards that are stamped for each bike-ride to school and can be redeemed for prizes. For more information about Bike To School Challenge and to see photos and videos, go to www.centurycycles.com/for/BTS.