More than 80 bicycles appeared at the bike racks May 12 as students and staff left cars and carpools to bike to school.

Why? Bike to school day. The AP Environmental Science class organized the event, with their grade on the line as the project assessment depended on the number who rode. As an incentive, those who rode their bike to school received snacks, water, and potential extra credit for their classes.

Environmental science teacher Willie Carlile, who rides his bike to work every day from Oakland, taking BART to Walnut Creek, emphasized the importance of biking.

“Not only is biking, when you can of course, beneficial for the environment, but it is also a positive thing to do in terms of mental and physical health,” Carlile commented. “Biking to where you need to go saves money and requires independence, which are two important aspects of growing up.”

Student cyclists were enthusiastic.

“I biked to school because I thought it would be fun to have friends over for breakfast before we left,” senior Alec Read-Skyhawk said. “Cooking up pancakes and bacon before a nice bike ride makes for an enjoyable morning.”

The 80 bikes more than doubled the number of usual riders. The next week, about 40 bikes were locked in the racks.

Many students welcomed the cyclists, which included regular staff riders Carlile, math teacher Tucker Farrar, and physics teacher Kipp Penovich.