As student tardiness and fitness issues continue to be a problem, a simple solution would be for the district to encouraging cycling to school. Doing this could provide our high school with an effective and sustainable way to promote punctuality and a healthier lifestyle for students. The first step would need to be to add a bike rack so students had a safe place to lock up their bicycle.
Student lateness has always been an issue with high school students with many students having trouble getting to school on time. Whether it’s due to waking up late, not having a ride, or unreliable transportation, these issues cause major delays, resulting in students arriving late and missing important information presented in class.
Another problem school districts and health professionals point out is student health and fitness. According to a survey by Cambridge International, students are not getting enough exercise. The article reports that “that one in three school pupils around the world does no exercise at school. This is despite growing concern by leading global health experts that childhood obesity and unhealthy lifestyles are on the rise.”
This is where cycling can help. In an August article, the British Schools Cycling Association wrote that through cycling, students can achieve more exercise, which will wake their bodies up, help them lose weight, and help them feel more awake and ready for their classes.
There are some steps that the district can take to encourage more students to cycle. By doing this, we can reduce the reliance on cars and buses, which will lead to less traffic around school grounds during school hours. This will make it less likely for students attempting to get to school to be stuck in long lines of vehicles, helping them arrive on time and ready to focus on their classwork. Cycling is also a relatively quick and efficient mode of transportation, which will make life easier for those who live close to the school.
In addition to promoting promptness, cycling offers significant health benefits. Many Monroe-Woodbury students struggle to find time for regular physical activity outside of school hours due to homework, extracurricular activities, and even part-time jobs. These responsibilities make it hard to fit exercise into their busy schedules. By cycling to and from school, students have a built-in opportunity for physical activity, making it easier to meet daily exercise recommendations. According to experts, regular cycling has been proven to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle strength, and reduce stress levels.
Beyond these individual benefits, cycling also has a positive environmental impact. Encouraging more students to bike reduces the number of cars and buses on the road, which contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution. This can help instill environmentally responsible habits in students from a young age.
Monroe-Woodbury student Joseph Bardi had mixed feelings about the prospect of students biking to school.
“If students live within walking distance of school, they should seriously consider biking,” said Bardi. “However, if they live far away, it might not be safe or practical.”
This view reflects the common challenge many students face—those nearby can benefit from biking, but for others, distance poses a significant obstacle.
Dr. Jamie Goldstein, a local pediatrician said, “It’s fantastic exercise and a great way to unwind before and after school.”
However, she raised concerns about safety, adding, “The roads around here aren’t safe, and there are real dangers on the way to and from school.”
This highlights the importance of the district addressing road safety before encouraging cycling to school.
When discussing the health benefits, Dr. Goldstein explained, “Cycling is excellent cardio. It’s easier on the knees than running, accessible to people of all sizes, and great for balance, core strength, and mental health. Plus, it’s a social activity that can be done anywhere.”
These advantages could greatly benefit students looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Regarding whether she’d recommend biking to school, she concluded, “If it’s safe to get there, I highly recommend biking.”
