Courtesy of Chris Powers

Posing with his bike, Special School District teacher assistant Chris Powers gets ready for a bike ride. Powers’ rides to work can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours. “You can discover things that you would never see if you were in a car,” Powers said. “[Riding my bike] has made me more perceptive. You gain wisdom each time you ride your bike.”

Whether it’s a way to get energized for the coming day or a form of meditation after school, Special School District teacher assistant Chris Powers and Orchestra teacher Ed Sandheinrich advocate for the benefits that riding a bike to school offers. 

Powers began riding his bike to work as a form of therapy and a way to help the environment. 

“[Cycling] is really good therapy because it’s a good release to clear your mind. You can meditate when you’re on your bicycle,” Powers said. “It’s also negative if you’re putting fossil fuel or gas into the environment. It makes me feel really helpful to do my own little part.”

Though Powers sometimes struggles to find the motivation for his bike rides, he feels exercising is a beneficial way to start and end his work day. 

“When you wake up early in the morning, the last thing you think about doing is exercising. After school or after a long day, the last thing you really want to do is exercise. When you have to ride your bike first thing in the morning and after school, it recharges your body, and overall, you just feel better all day.”

Sandheinrich also finds motivation from riding his bike to and from work, which he began as a way to exercise and think about the school day. 

“It’s really nice to do something physical, and [cycling] is a nice way to get back and forth. I can think about the school day, or forget about the school day on the way home if I need to,” Sandheinrich said. 

Inspired by his dad to start cycling,  Sandheinrich rode his bike to work two to three times a week before COVID-19 hit. 

“[Riding my bike] can get me to work while I’m doing something I like. [I’ve learned] that it doesn’t get any easier, you just get faster,” Sandheinrich said. 

Powers feels that his bike rides energize him and encourages others to ride their bikes. 

“It’s part of my routine, but it’s really exciting. When you’re putting your energy into riding a bike, and you’re getting fresh air, it makes every day exciting,” Powers said.  “It’s so beautiful to pedal hard to go up the hill and then ride downhill.”