Osborne Elementary students recognize National Walk & Roll to School Day

When Quaker Valley School Board member Stratton Nash saw children riding bikes without helmets, he was concerned for their safety.

“I want the kids to be safe,” said Nash, a Sewickley resident who wanted to advocate for bicycle safety the same week as National Walk & Roll to School Day, which was Oct. 8. “It’s about teaching the children the importance of wearing a helmet and to obey traffic signs and signals.”

The Sewickley Community Coalition, Sewickley resident Todd Hamer, Sewickley Police Officer Dave Yurkovac and Nash, organized Ride Your Bike to School Day on Oct. 9.

Hamer, an Allegheny County Police officer, along with Sewickley police officers, rode bicycles with students to school at Osborne Elementary.

At the school, helmets were available from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (the hospital gives away 3,000 helmets a year). Children were also given a bookmark from the Sewickley Police Department with tips about bicycle safety.

About 50 students ride their bicycles to Osborne Elementary that day, according to Glen Sovich of the Quaker Valley School District Police Department, which partnered with the Sewickley Community Coalition.

The ride began on Centennial Avenue and traveled to the Sewickley YMCA school bus stop, onto Thorn Street, to the school.

Rider Abel Marek, a fourth grader, said he makes sure to wear a helmet. He usually rides with a friend.

“We ride in most weather,” he said. “It was a little cold at the start, but I warmed up as I started to ride. This year, we plan to ride in the snow. Riding a bike to school is fun.”

Hamer said they will continue to spread the word about bike safety and Nash said they plan to do this again.

“This was a pilot,” Nash said. “We wanted to try it and get the logistics worked out and then we can coordinate more of these.”