The last post, about the wonderful new bike/skateboard/scooter racks at Sylvan Middle School, may leave you wondering about other schools.
Most schools in San Juan have bike racks that were placed when the school was first built, meaning many are 30 to 70 years old. These were not good racks to begin with, most being what are called “wheel benders” since when bikes are accidentally or intentionally knocked over, the front wheel gets bent. In an attempt to use these racks, students lock their bikes parallel to the rack, using up many slots, or give up and lock to a fence or something else nearby.
After decades of use, many racks are in poor condition, with broken bars and rails, rusted and sharp metal, and years of abandoned locks.
Some bike racks are placed on dirt or grass, so when it rains or sprinklers over-water, they are not usable. Many racks are placed up against walls or fences so that only one side of the rack is usable.
These bike racks do not encourage students to bike to school, in fact they discourage students.
Students riding skateboards and scooters do not have a place for their devices either. They can try to use the bike racks, but the racks were not designed for this, provide no security, and often have bikes parked on top of the skateboards and scooters. Or, skateboards and scooters are stored in classrooms where they take up space and create a safety hazard.
The next posts will be about best-practice solutions to these issues.
Safe Routes San Juan 