Will and Carla Kessler ride with all three of their kids to school in the morning.

How long have you been biking to school?

This is the second school year we have been biking to school, from the Western Addition where we live to Grattan Elementary in Cole Valley.

Why did you start?

Driving the giant minivan is a huge waste and parking near Grattan is well to near impossible. Plus, we all love biking.

What’s one fun story from your bike ride to school?

Recently our 8-year-old was biking slower and slower, while his 5-year-old brother was getting faster and faster. We couldn’t figure it out for the longest time. Was the 8-year-old’s backpack just getting too heavy with homework? Was he going to bed too late? Then his mom figured it out: low tire pressure! This morning with full tires he screamed through Golden Gate Park.

How does walking/biking to school impact your ability to get to work?

Sometimes I end up getting to work a bit later than I’d like, but that’s also because I bike to work in the opposite direction. However, I have so much fun accompanying the kids (all 3) to school by bike that it’s worth it.

What advice would you give to other parents interested in biking to school?

Find the safest route, and repeat safety rules to your kids 1 billion times. They don’t stick. In a perfect world, we’d all have no cars on the roads when we’re biking too school, but since we must all coexist on the roads, make sure your kids understand traffic flow and where to look, and to check to see if drivers see them. Also, keep in mind, kids on sidewalks on bikes is legal * despite what some residents will scream at you… ignore them. Kids can ride on sidewalks if there is no bike lane.

“Sidewalk Bicycle Riding by Children.” (SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 08-151, 8/19/2008)

James and his son Jonah riding along Valencia Street.

How long have you been walking/biking to school?

Since September (2011).

Why did you start?

We bought bikes and a trail-a-bike for Jonah with the idea that it would be the primary way we’d get him to school from our home in the Mission to the Panhandle.

What’s one fun story from your walking/biking to school? (for you and Jonah as well)

Jonah often sings while riding. Recently it’s been “This Land is Your Land.” It’s a joy for me and for a bunch of pedestrians and other bikers.

How does walking/biking to school impact your ability to get to work?

It doesn’t really. It’s about 20 minutes each way, which is about what it takes if traveling by car given parking on each side (at his school and parking back at home means an additional walk to BART).

What advice would you give to other parents interested in walking/biking to school?

It’s a blast. It’s a great way to get in exercise that’s also for a purpose. My time feels like it’s always at a premium; I’ve got a treadmill that’s sat there for quite some time because it’s so hard to carve out the time.  And all of us, my wife and I both bike Jonah to and from school, enjoy getting to experience the city in what feels like a more hands-on way.

Kevin and his daughter Amelia looking happy after their ride.

1· How long have you been biking to school?

Since the beginning of the 2011 school year when my daughter (Amelia) started 3rd grade.

2· Why did you start?

Amelia had spent the summer mastering her new bicycle skills and we were both excited to start biking to school instead of driving. All benefits to our health and the environment aside, it’s just a much better way to enjoy our neighborhood and home in the city.

3· What’s one fun story from your walking/biking experience?

At this point, all of our bike days are an occasion to smile. It’s a been such a great way to actually share our commute and start our day together. We’ve gotten to know the crossing guards on our route and anticipate the morning air. It is by far more enjoyable than driving. We’re both engaged in the commute and happier for it. Unlike car commuting, there is no option to “check out” and be passive on the way to school.

4· How does walking/biking to school impact your ability to get to work?

I work in the city and my commute from Amelia’s school is pretty short.

5· What advice would you give to other parents interested in walking/biking to school?

Pick a day or two each week that you’d like to bike or walk with your child. Put it on the calendar. Make an event out of it and plan with other family members accordingly. Leave yourself extra time to get it down. Once you do it a few times, everyone gets a little faster at getting out the door and following your route. You’ll probably also find you’ll want to do it more often.

Ely and his son Finley on their way to school.

1· How long have you been walking/biking/scootering to school?

My son has been riding his bike to school since he started kindergarten in September. He rides to school rain or shine, day or night. He has been riding a two wheeler since he was four and has been riding on the back of our tandem since he was three. Our Bike Friday Family tandem is designed to have a three year old on the back, pedaling. On weekends, we usually go for a longer ride, about 3 1/2 hours or so. We have not owned a car for over 12 years.

2· Why did you start?

We have always been riding, so there really never was a start, it’s just what we do every day, for everything. My wife was riding before I met her, I was riding before I moved here. I took my son for his first ride when he was four days old. For us, we always ride, every day, for everything.

3· What’s one fun story from your walking/biking to school?

My son Finley knows where all of the puddles are on our route to school and usually, we have time to run through them a few times. Luckily, our bikes have full fenders and mud flaps, so we stay fairly clean.

4· How does walking/biking to school impact your ability to get to work?

Riding to work is faster and easier than the bus, driving, walking, or riding a motorcycle. I’ve tried them all. I ride from the mission to the top of Nob Hill, Grace Cathedral. There is no parking for cars or motorcycles and the bus takes 45 minutes. Walking is actually a nice change, but it takes about an hour or so. Riding to work gives me the flexibility and speed to run errands on the way to work in a timely manner. Stopping by the grocery store, post office, fabric store, hardware store, it’s all quick and very very easy. I often wonder why folks prefer to drive, it takes so much longer. A few weeks ago, some friends were visiting and wanted to see where I work. I got on my bike and told them “I bet I’ll get there before you.” I beat them by a few minutes.

5· What advice would you give to other parents interested in walking/biking to school?

For cyclist, ride whatever bike you have and just have fun with it. Wear whatever you want to, and let your kid ride and wear whatever they want to. Get some lights for safety and obey the traffic laws. Make it safe for everyone, including cars and pedestrians. Start slow, then go slower, you might miss a rain puddle.

Brook and her children riding to school on a sunny day.

1· How long have you been biking to school?

We have been biking to school for 2 1/2 years, since my daughter started Kinder at Marshall.

2· Why did you start?

We’ve always been a biking family, so it wasn’t a matter of starting, just a matter of continuing our family’s lifestyle and making it work for the school commute.

3· What’s one fun story from your walking/biking to school?

My favorite thing about it is the smiles we put on people’s faces first thing in the morning, You really feel like you’re making a difference to these folks, however small, when they look over and a smile lights up their faces as they see my 7-year old rapidly peddling her own 1-speed bike with her backpack on, chatting away, and me with my 3-year-old son, dragged along every day for the ride, either on my bike in the bike seat, or on the gator-trailer, peddling his own bike while I pull him safely behind me. I guess we look pretty cute!

4· How does walking/biking to school impact your ability to get to work?

Biking to school doesn’t impact my ability to get to work, as I bike to work at the Opera house as well, and can continue on my route after dropping both kids off at their respective schools in the Mission.

5· What advice would you give to other parents interested in walking/biking to school?

Ride on the sidewalk and take your time. It’s really pretty safe. And leaving those 10-15 min earlier is well-worth the built-in exercise for you and your child, as well as the family bonding time as you travel together outside, breathing the fresh air, and chatting along the way. It also promotes a sense of community, as we wave at folks who expect us to ride by every day, and we pass other neighbors taking their kids to school or heading off to work. I also like how the expectation to ride every day builds in an environmentally-friendly mentality for my children.