Crossroads School: The First Bicycle Friendly School in Santa Monica

Crossroads School in Santa Monica is an independent school (K-12) with more than 1000 students. Last month they received word that they qualified as a Bicycle Friendly Business.

This distinction is offered by the League of American Bicyclists to places of employment which go the extra mile to encourage employees to ride to work. Participants undergo a complex evaluation process and receive guidance how to improve services to those who use a bicycle to come to work.

Andrew Gaines, who works as facilities manager at Crossroads, says the school has about 50 employees who ride to school, and many of the students do too. Employees do receive incentives (gift cards, monetary rewards) when they come to school without a car. Gaines said that the fact that teachers and staff are cycling is itself an important lesson for the children who understand that the bicycle is a perfectly acceptable mode of transportation around town, especially in Santa Monica. He hopes that his school can become an example for other schools in Santa Monica.

Congratulations, Crossroads! Keep up the good work!