Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Jose Banda traveled to West Seattle on May 7 to take part in Bike To School Day with the students of Alki Elementary. Banda is a bike rider himself but when he grew up he said he lived too distant from the school to be able to ride a bike. But he did ride to event.

An estimated 100 children took part in the event, riding from two different outlying locations to converge at the school.

Banda said he sees the Bike To School program as "the perfect way" to emphasize the importance of physical exercise to children. "It's not only a different way of getting around and an ecologically sound way of getting around but also the health factor that goes with it. It builds really good health habits in students and hopefully they will continue that into their adult life," he said.

He encourages teachers to ride to school where possible. "This is Seattle and parking is really at a premium anywhere. I think it's a great opportunity to get out and get some fresh air and sunshine."

Teacher Terry Kegel said he rides to school every day and said there were others who ride too. He estimated only "four or five" students regularly ride to school every day throughout the year, "but we're trying to up that number."