How The Panza Family Rolls

In 2007 Tina Panza’s life changed significantly (in a positive way). Her 4th grade son was attending one of 17 schools participating that year in the International Walk & Roll to School Day. Tina always drove her son to school. It was safe; convenient…that was just the way it was. Even though this new school was only a half a mile from their house Tina didn’t plan to change.

She tried to ignore the barrage of fliers promoting International Walk & Roll to School Day that came home regularly. However, it was her son’s persistent requests, or as Tina said, “He bugged and bugged me to let him walk to school on that particular day”, that changed her mind. Tina found a neighborhood classmate who was also walking and gave in. They haven’t looked back.

Tina’s son walked or rode almost every day all the way thru 6th grade. He now bikes regularly to his new junior high and only a torrential downpour can sometimes change his mind. Tina wasn’t much of a cyclist and had no plans to be. However, her son’s enthusiasm and her new job as project manager for the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School program have changed that.

Tina suggests anyone interested in learning new, or honing old bicycling skills attend the Street Skills Class for cyclists. An adult as well as a youth class are available. They are offered once a month through the Sonoma County Bike Coalition (www.bikesonoma.org).

A special federal grant through the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School is currently funding 16 schools (7 in Santa Rosa, 4 in Rohnert Park and 4 in Sebastopol) with staff to implement a bicycling and walking skill/safety program. However, it is the Sonoma County Bike Coalition that is responsible for pursuing bicycle and pedestrian paths and trails that make all of this possible.

Click here to read the article at the Sonoma Family Life Magazine website