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Dunbar tackles bike safety with bike ride with kids
Greencastle Mayor Lynda Dunbar took time out of her day on this past Tuesday to enjoy a bike ride with a family and their kids on the way home from Tzouanakis Intermediate school.
The ride was part of what a group of Greencastle families are calling “Bike Commute with a Kid.” The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about street safety and the need for improved infrastructure as the city undergoes its comprehensive plan rewrite. This week public officials — including Mayor Dunbar, city council members and Greencastle school leadership — had opportunities to accompany parents and children on their daily bicycle commutes to school or daycare. Participants rode a bike alongside families, experiencing the same routes and facing the same challenges that children and their parents encounter every day.
Dunbar joined the Kehr family as Jackie Kehr and her two daughters Ada and Elna biked the path home.
“This was a great experience to go biking with this family and really getting to see things from their perspective,” Dunbar said. “This was a real eye opener when I was over at TZ there was a lack of bikes at the school. When I was in school the bike racks used to be full because that was the way we got to school. We did see some areas on our ride that can be improved and so I’ve asked the families who are avid bikers to put a few areas that they would like to see us work on so that we can take a real serious look at helping them out.”
One of the organizers of the “Bike Commute with a Kid” event is Kevin Verhoff who is a parent who frequently commutes by bike with his own kids. Verhoff noted how this event is an important topic for many parents who deal with the day-to-day hassles of biking.
“For those of us who bike with our kids, safety is always top of mind,” Verhoff said. "We want our leaders to see firsthand what it’s like to navigate Greencastle’s streets as a family, and how we can make it safer for everyone — especially children.
“We’re really thankful that we have Lynda who is very supportive and open to what we’re trying to do. It’s a great feeling that we’re able to connect with our mayor and other city leaders and something that I really love about living in a small town.”
The event comes at a critical time as Greencastle officials are reworking the city’s comprehensive plan. Improving walkability and bike safety is a key issue. Many families, like those organizing this event, want to ensure the city prioritizes safer, more accessible streets for residents, visitors and businesses alike.
“We need to be proactive and be a community that has better areas for people to bike around,” Dunbar said.
Verhoff ended by saying how there’s plenty of opportunities for those who may want to get involved with the biking community here in Greencastle. Whether people are wanting more adventurous or just wanting a casual ride when while the weather still allows it, there’s something out there for everyone.
“Biking is a great way for people to get out and enjoy the weather while getting great exercise,” he said. “Of course we have People Pathways which a a great group to be a part of. We have a great opportunity here in Greencastle because of all the assets we have for biking.”