Amy and Caiden Vasquez commute to their neighborhood elementary school

Hawaii Sport Magazine: When did you start commuting to school?

Amy Vasquez: I’ve been riding with Caiden to school for about 5 years.

HSM: How did you get started?

AV: Caiden’s first school was about half a mile from our house. It really didn’t make sense to drive him, riding bikes was much faster than waiting in the drop-off line. When we started Caiden was on a trail-a-bike but he’s since switched to riding his own bike.

HSM: What has surprised you about bike commuting to school?

AV: It took a few years but pretty soon we had a whole gang of kids riding to school. People told us they had always wanted to try it and we showed them it was fun and easy.

I also didn’t realize how much more opportunity there is to interact with nature on a bike. On the way home Caiden and I stop and look at plants and animals. It’s a great opportunity for enrichment and quality time with Caiden. It also ensures Caiden gets exercise every day!

This story first appeared in the July issue of Hawaii Sport Magazine: The Bike Issue