Can You Help Make Biking to Hawthorne Easier?

At the Bicycle Coalition, nothing motivates us like the stories we hear about people dedicated to making biking easier and safer for all of us.  This is definitely the case at Hawthorne Elementary School.

Access to Hawthorne is tricky as it is the only school in the District with neither a lot nor a turnaround. All of the buses, autos, pedestrians and bikes are served only by City streets.  In 2011, with support from the City of SLO, Rideshare, and the school district, parents spurred the initiation of a painted bike box to designate exactly how bicycles should enter the school at the bike cage.  For the last year parents have been taking turns arriving early at school to place cones and a bike ramp at the bike access point. That is some serious dedication!

Of course, the parents, school, city, and district are all on board to see a real long-term solution.  Do you want to get involved? We are looking for a licensed contractor with workman’s comp and the ability to donate their equipment and service to complete Hawthorne’s curb cut plans (see PDF of plans here).  Please contact the SLO County Bike Coalition for more information.

The Bike Coalition would sincerely like to thank the parents and other kind folks for your efforts at Hawthorne Elementary School. Your hard work and dedication is an inspiration for all of us.

Tom diSanto, M:OME Architecture

Rod Hoadley,  Peak Racks

Kirt Collins, School Principal

Angela Nelson, formerly of Rideshare

Chris Teaford, Specialty Construction

Ben Jensen, Horrocks Engineers

Berry Geno Worden

Josh Machamer

Lee Engelmeier

Matt Treichler