Santa Monica High School’s (Samohi) Solar Alliance, a student-run, grass-root organization that connects Santa Monica youth and the global environmental issues is encouraging a car free campus movement tomorrow (October 21st). Nicknamed “Bike It Day”, the event aims at promoting students and staff members to opt for different modes of transportation like bikes, buses, skate boards, walking other than cars which is damaging for the environment.

Update:
Voice of Santa Monica caught up with teachers and students who rode their bikes to school to share their experiences about the event – A one day cause or  a long term change?

(Listen to students at Samohi)

Lulu Mickelson, Samohi Solar Alliance (SAS)
SAS was started in 2004. Over the years we have tried to clean our campus and connect youth with the global environmental kind of movement. So, the whole idea is to think locally but act globally. We started with lot of structural changes. We got solar thermal panels on the school pools and then we started working on the behavior change with the bike it day. So while it is one day it is supposed to be a long term change. The idea is that if students see how easy it is to bike once they are more likely to do it again.

Richard McKinnnon, Bike It Chair
This year’s event is in line with the expectation. I thought much more kids would ride, more than what people were predicting, and the bikes racks are already filled and it’s still 8 a.m. A year or two ago there were probably 20 students who were riding a bike on a daily basis and now there are 80 or 90. We see a big growth in people doing the right thing and we have to keep encouraging them.

Michael Cahn, PTSA Transportation Chair
I have been teaching safe biking classes at school. You see kids coming on the bikes ought to be taken to the classroom to teach them the right attitude and how to be visible on the road. It becomes a much more pleasurable experience for those who have learnt these tricks and tips than for those who haven’t.

How did the parents respond to the event?
The response was mixed said Michael Cahn, PTSA Transportation Chair. Cahn recalls “I had one yellow car, with four kids in it and they wouldn’t take anything from me and there was another mother who left her windows closed. But there were hundreds of cars which were very friendly and appreciative.”

How can Santa Monica community help?
Samohi houses around 3000 students, out of which 500 to 600 students need a bike but cannot afford it. Richard McKinnnon, Bike It Chair said that while some bikes have been donated a lot more can be donated. He hoped that these events will help spread the word and garner support for the cause.

To know more about the car free campus move visit “Bike It Day” or Solar Alliance. If you want to donate a bike or need information contact:
Michael Cahn, PTSA Transportation Chair, 310 752 3177
Richard McKinnnon, Bike It Chair, 310 403 1505
Lulu Mickelson, Samohi Solar Alliance, 310 266 9884