Mom encourages her kids not to rely on the car

“I want my children to get into the habit of using their feet to get places,”
 said Fanny Jasper, a Novato mother of Luis (12), Isabel (10) and Carl (7). 

All three of her children bike to school almost every day.  “I don’t want them to rely on our car for everything.  Cycling makes everyone feel more positive about life.”

The family relocated to Novato last year after living in Upstate New York where her kids took a long bus ride to school.  Moving to sunny California provided the family with an opportunity to ride places together by bike all year long.  “I feel like we are on vacation when riding to school,” said Jasper.  “Biking is a lifestyle choice.  It also instills in our children an appreciation for nature.” 

“I see three Llamas on my way to school every day,” said Isabelle Jasper.  “Biking is more fun than sitting in the back seat of the car to school.”  Isabelle and her younger brother bike almost one mile every day to school.  “The fresh air wakes me up before I get to class.  I never feel tired after riding my bike to school.”

Fanny shared that her children always ride with a helmet and taught them the rules of the road. “Cycling makes our kids happy.  They never complain about riding to school.  The release of endorphins from the exercise and the joy of riding outdoors put children in a better mood before school.  Most importantly, teaching them at a young age helps to make riding a lifelong habit.”