Teacher Wins the EdgeRunner Family Bike

We have a winner! Omar Mendoza, kindergarten teacher at Monroe Elementary in the Excelsior, organized his school’s Bike & Roll to School Week and won the grand prize: the EdgeRunner family/cargo bike donated by Xtracycle. We delivered the prize bike to Omar on the last day of school and learned a lot more about how he promotes walking and biking to school all year long.

SF Bicycle Coalition: Tell us about winning the EdgeRunner family bike.

Omar: I entered the contest on Monroe’s Bike & Roll to School Day last April, when I signed in along with all the other parents and teachers who helped out by accompanying the students or handing out prizes. I didn’t really consider that I might be the winner.

How did you organize Bike & Roll to School Week at Monroe Elementary?

Omar: I registered Monroe to participate in October’s Walk & Roll to School Day at a wellness training at the beginning of the school year. The event was so popular with families, it made sense for me to become Monroe’s liaison for Safe Routes to School and organize Bike & Roll to School Week. On Bike & Roll to School Day, a big group gathered at the neighborhood meetup point at Excelsior Playground. I used school channels for publicity, and the principal and PTA helped get the word out to families.

How does biking fit in with your school’s Safe Routes to School goals?

Biking to school is one way to get healthy exercise for both kids and parents. Whether some bike, some walk or ride a scooter, it’s fun for the family. And fewer cars right around the school makes it safer. I’d like to see regular “walking school buses” and “bike trains” to Monroe, and teach more kids to ride at another school or community event.

What are you going to do with the EdgeRunner Family Bike?

I don’t have any kids of my own, but I know some kids to whom I’d like to give rides! I’m going to use it for groceries and errands as well. I can’t wait to ride it home.

Learn more about family bikes this Sunday at Sunday Streets in the Mission. We’ll be there with our fleet of family bikes, happy to answer any questions and offer free test rides.

Become a member and you'll improve your commute and get discounts at shops across the city.