A Rainy Day: Safe Routes Philly at Holy Cross School

Date: November 4, 2010
Neighborhood: East Mount Airy
Number of Students: 47

It was a very rainy day with mild weather and cold, cold water drops. But is that enough to keep Safe Routes Philly from teaching a lesson? No way! In reference to getting outside in less than desirable weather, I once heard someone say, “it’s not the weather, it’s the clothing!” What a great statement. It always motivates me to get outside in bad weather. I threw on my warmer gear, tossed in a change of clothes, water proofed everything that came with me, and headed off to Mount Airy!

Riding along the Schuyllkill River Trail is a very interesting experience on bad weather days. There are only a handful of runners and cyclists trudging through the park trying to get through their workout. Giving a fist-pump or some other form of support goes a long way for morale and the return is always a positive response.

I arrived at the door of Holy Cross School with plenty of time to introduce myself, change, and prepare for the first class. Sixth grade had me first. Their voices astounded me.

“Good afternoon class.”

“GOOD AFTERNOON!” They responded. Their volume was loud like a shout, but their expressions conveyed much less effort.

Later on in the lesson, when we discussed how to properly wear a helmet, I first introduced the motto, Eyes, Ears, Mouth to them. I asked them to repeat.

“EYES! EARS! MOUTH!” they shouted.

Their volume is already as high as most classes go. I say, “Louder.”

They went to a whole other level. “EYES!!! EARS!!! MOUTH!!!”

My ears almost popped! I tell their teacher, “This class has some talent!” I hear some students say thank yous in a surprised tone, and then say, “Ok, say it softer!”

They whisper, “eyes…ears…mouth”

My ears are relieved. Lastly, I say “slowly!”

The class goes, “eeeyyyyyeeesss……eeeeaaaaarrrrrssssss…….mmmmoooooooooouuuuuuuutttttttthhhhhhhh….”

I change my pace to a slow-motion robot movement as they say it. The class erupts in laughter. The repetition helps the class remember the material, and the changes in volume and tempo keep it fun.

The fifth grade class was just as fun. Their teacher was able to share a story of her sister who had an a crash while cycling, but because she was wearing a helmet, she survived. There is surely no better connection than when you can make it real.

The teacher also suggested a rather interesting all African-American cycling club known as Bikin’ Blazers. For more information on Bikin’ Blazers, click here!

Special thanks goes out to the 5^th and 6^th grade teachers for welcoming Safe Routes Philly to their classrooms, and a very special thanks goes out to Principal Brian Werner for helping to make it happen. Here’s to 47 more students that are now safer in the streets of Philadelphia!

Ride Safe,
~Cy

Would you like Safe Routes Philly at your school? Lessons are available for FREE to 5th grade classrooms in every Private, Parochial, and Charter School in Philadelphia! If you or someone you know would like us to visit a school, please contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org. For public elementary schools, we've got a special program that will be coming to your school! Check out our website for more information.

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