U-46 principal gets wheels turning to fight obesity

Bike? Check. Helmet? Check. Principal escort? Check.

In honor of National Bike to Work Week, which is May 12 to 16, Spring Trail Elementary School Principal Rick Schroeder is leading students to and from school on his bicycle.

The idea dawned on Schroeder, he said, after he had ruled out biking from his own Barrington home to the Carol Stream school.

"One of the first questions I always get from people is if I bike to work," he said. "The only way to get there is down Route 59 to Barrington Road. I don't think I could make it without killing myself."

Instead, he decided to ride with his students, most of whom live within walking distance of the school.

On Monday, Schroeder said about 40 of his 490 students took part in the rides. Morning rides start about 8:05 a.m., Schroeder said. Afternoon ones just after school ends at 2:30 p.m.

That number has grown steadily each day, he said.

Schroeder, who keeps a bike at school, hopes to instill a "biking culture" at Spring trail. "The obesity rate is much higher than it used to be. This is an easy, fun solution," he said.

Next year, Schroeder said, he's planning to make the rides a yearlong activity --weather permitting.

"We'll put up more (bike) racks if we need to, let's do it," he said.