My boys love to ride bikes, but I'm a mommy who worries.
I'd love to let them ride free -
but want them where I can see them.
I'd like them to ride close to home -
but prefer sidewalks (without driveways).
I'd prefer a smooth trail-
but feel most safe in a populated area.
I'd love to let them ride free -
but want them where I can see them.
I'd like them to ride close to home -
but prefer sidewalks (without driveways).
I'd prefer a smooth trail-
but feel most safe in a populated area.
The solution:
While I love Willamette University here in Salem, any other college (2 year or 4 year) campus will offer the same benefits. Miles of well-paved, traffic-less, paths await young bikers. My boys have heard my speech about "pedestrians", "right-of-way", and sounding your bike bell when passing, but a quiet summer campus isn't crowded enough to truly worry about collisions.
Earlier this week, I sat and watched my youngest ride around, and around, and around, and around the WU quad. He got a workout. I got the chance to sit among the beautiful trees and people-watch as professors hurried from building to building and summer camp students played soccer on the field.
After more than forty-five minutes of riding - I took my son to the small campus snack-shop for a quick treat! The closet-sized (student run) store offers ice cream, pop, potato chips, candy bars, jerky, trail mix, etc... My son chose milk and a cookie, which we enjoyed as we sat on the banks of the Mill Race.
"Why doesn't that little store have real food?" he asked.
I answered, "Well, it's not a grocery store. It's a college-students-stay-up-late-I-want-a-treat-store."
Thinking that over with great intensity, he responded, "I like college, Mom."
Me too!
"Why doesn't that little store have real food?" he asked.
I answered, "Well, it's not a grocery store. It's a college-students-stay-up-late-I-want-a-treat-store."
Thinking that over with great intensity, he responded, "I like college, Mom."
Me too!