Collier, who lives near San Luis High, has noted a tremendous drop-off in numbers of teens riding their bikes to school. Now, as soon as they turn 16, they want their own car. And because schools can't supply parking for all the cars, that impacts the neighborhoods. Getting kids out of their cars, or out of their parents' cars, could also help fight the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, said Chris Orfas, executive director of the California Bike Coalition, a statewide lobbying group that hopes to increase both cycling and the infrastructure to support it. Children are fatter than ever.
Obesity now causes more illness and death than smoking.
A generation ago, he said, it wasn't uncommon at all to see a schoolyard full of bikes. Now less than one in 10 school children walks or rides their bikes. The California Bike Coalition has a couple main goals, Orfas said. We can't build our way out of gridlock. Finally, communities must create a cultural environment that makes biking and walking not only possible but acceptable.