Submitted by Terry Gleason, Chairman of Bedford’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
When Job Lane school principal Ron Ackerman initiated the school’s participation in International Bike/Walk to School Day five years ago, the Safe Routes to School program began unofficially in Bedford. Over two hundred walkers and sixty bicyclists participated in that event. Since then the program has grown each year to include events at three schools that have earned two recognition awards and a Massachusetts safety infrastructure grant.
To celebrate Bedford’s 5-year biking to school anniversary the Bedford Friends of the Minuteman Bikeway are recognizing two people – Principal Ackerman for his commitment to the program, and student Theo Knox for his outstanding year-long participation as a student bicycle commuter.
The Bedford Friends of The Minuteman Bikeway, an organization of Bedford volunteers interested in promoting safe bicycling for all levels and ages in Bedford has been a principle partner of the Town’s bike to school program since the beginning. In addition to leading the group rides to Job Lane on the rail trail each spring and fall, their certified instructors teach bike safety to the 4th graders. As those students graduate to the Middle and High Schools, and with the current plans to extend the Minuteman Bikeway along the rail trail that abuts the Town Campus, the Friends expect to see biking to school become a healthier alternative for many students.
The Friends also want to thank their volunteers, Bikeway Source, the Rotary Club, and the Bedford Police for their many donations, of both time and funding, to help make Bedford a more ‘bike friendly’ community.
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