West Shore Sun: Bike-to-School hits new record numbers

The Bike-to-School Challenge in Bay Village, Medina and Rocky River concluded its first week with students breaking bike-riding records for the event, said Tracey Bradnan, a spokeswoman for Century Cycles, which is the annual organizer.

During the three-week program's first week, May 6-10, all but one school showed double-digit growth over last year's ridership, with three schools logging record days.

Overall, the program averaged 1,275 bicyclists riding to school per day for the week at the five schools, for a total of 6,375 bike-rides to school. The highest overall ride day of the week was May 9, when 1,394 students bikes, a new event record.

The program concludes may 23 at Rocky River Middle School and May 24 at Bay middle and high schools and two Medina middle school.

Bay Middle School averages 576 bicyclists to school the first week, consisting of 70 percent of the school and an increase of 22 percent compared to the 2012 per-day average of 474. The highest ride day at Bay Middle School was 634 bicyclists May 8, which represented 77 percent of the school, a new Bay Middle School and Bike-to-School Challenge record.

Bay High School averaged 123 bicyclists to school during the week, down 9 percent from their 135-per-day average in 2012. This is the sixth year for the program in Bay Village.

In Rocky River, where the program is in its third year, Rocky River Middle School logged a recrod high-ride day May 9, when 377 students biked, which represents 61 percent of the school. On average during the week, 338 Rocky River students bike each day, which is 55 percent of the school and is a 24 percent increase as compared with the per-day average of 273 in 2012.

Bike riding also was up significantly at two Medina middle schools, which are participating in the Bike-to-School Challenge for the second year.

Organizers said they hoe the challenge benefits the environment and improves students' health.