Alice B. Toeclip Nomination

The local(?) bicycle advocacy group, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance "... presents the Alice B. Toeclips Awards to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Oregon and SW Washington whose work has promoted the use of bicycles and increased the livability of our communities."

With the help of Mary Schmidgall, a long time Salem Bicycle Club member, I wrote the following nomination...

Nominees: Don & Sally Hopkins, Bill & Gail Bonniksen,and Scott's Cycle & Fitness

For the past nine years, students at Highland Elementary School in Salem have had an extra incentive to finish their schoolwork. Every six weeks, the names of those students who have completed all their reading homework assignments are entered into a drawing to win a bicycle. Two lucky students hear their name announced, and know they will soon be pedaling their own brand new bike. So far, more than 140 new bikes have been awarded.

This program was begun with the 1998-99 school year by Don and Sally Hopkins of Salem. In 2005, Bill and Gail Bonniksen, also of Salem, joined with the Hopkins' to contribute the necessary funds. Each couple donates $150 every six weeks. The winning students are presented with a $200 certificate redeemable at Scott's Cycles & Fitness of Salem, with Scott's contributing the $50 difference. Owners Larry Lewis and Steve Lewis assist the child and parents in choosing just the right bike and a properly fitted helmet.

Sally Hopkins, a former educator, says that the chance to win a bicycle serves to motivate the students in doing their homework. She says the feeling of "the wind blowing through your hair as you sail down the street" (wearing a helmet, of course) makes it worth doing that homework. Don Hopkins adds that their intention is to help the teachers to help the kids to learn. "The thrill of getting a bike really motivates!" says Don, an avid cyclist who rode two of the Salem Bicycle Club's event rides and obtained the 1,000 miles in the saddle milestone this year.

In addition to motivating the students, the bicycle award program teaches the hardworking students and their parents the value of owning a bicycle, with the feeling of freedom and sense of independence that only riding a bicycle can bring. It also gives the students a means of getting to school or going to a friend's house which keeps them active, reduces the number of vehicles on the road, and keeps our air cleaner.

This year, inspired by the Hopkins' and the Bonniksens, the program is being expanded to include Forest Ridge Elementary School in Keizer, sponsored by Ozzie & Carolee Rose and Lucille Whitman of Salem.

The Hopkins' and Bonniksens long-term, consistent financial commitment to supporting cycling for children in the Salem area introduces scores of children to the thrill and independence of cycling. This continuing support positively impacts hundreds of people throughout the Highland School district and beyond, and now will spread even further to other parts of the Salem/Keizer area.

Posted 12:53 PM by John Henry