Maui Prep Celebrates National Bike to School Day
By Debra Lordan
Maui Preparatory Academy in Lahaina joined schools throughout the country to celebrate National Bike to School Day on May 6, 2015.
Approximately 150 students, teachers and parents rode to school on bicycles, two- and three-wheeled cycles, and motorized and manual cycles.
This event kicks off Maui Prep’s initiative to improve traffic at the Honoapiʻilani Highway and Napilihau Street intersection, near the school’s locations, making travel to and from school–especially for pedestrians and bike riders, safer and more sustainable.
The Bike to School Day event is Maui Prep’s first step to develop a Safe Routes to School Plan to improve infrastructure surrounding the school, reduce speeds, and establish safer crosswalks and pathways.
“Every child should have the opportunity to walk, bike or ride the bus to school safely,” said Head of School Jonathan Silver.
“It was exciting to see the number of families that came together to support active transportation and safe environments for biking and walking to school,” said Saman Dias, chair of Maui Bicycling League. The County of Maui, Hawaiʻi Bicycling League and the Maui Police Department all turned out to support Maui Prep’s efforts.