Do West Plano kids bike to school? Do kids play outside freely much? (Robinson: house, neighborhood)

[europeanone]

I have never lived in the south but coming from the northeast I imagine that kids have much more of an opportunity to bike to school daily during most school months. Does this happen often in West Plano? And if so, do the schools have bike parking and are bikes stolen often? My kids' elementary school in NJ actually decided not put offer bike parking because they say it's a liability. And I should say we live in a very nice neighborhood.

I am also wondering if kids play outside freely in West Plano. My kids are used to going outside my house and shooting hoops on the street, riding their bikes around a 3-block radius with their friends, etc. They are purposefully not as playdate- and activity-scheduled as some other kids, and I don't particularly hide them in the backyard either. They come home with the street lights turn on.

Does this exist in West Plano -- in the Robinson Middle School district? If so, where? Thanks.

[taroberts]

I cant tell you if they ride their bikes to school. My kid is too young for school yet. But they play outside. I seen teens riding their bike up and down the street all the time. I see middle school girls take casual strolls. I see 10 yr olds riding by themself also. I do see people playing ball in the cul de sac also. Soccer and kick ball and what not.

[TheOverdog]

I imagine that kids have much more of an opportunity to bike to school daily during most school months

Across, the entire US, only 13% of kids bike or walk to school, and falling. Plano as a city isn't really well designed for biking or walking (many of the schools are next to large roadways), so it wouldn't surprise me if that percentage is even lower.

Within the span of one generation, the percentage of children walking or bicycling to school has dropped precipitously, from approximately 50% in 1969 to just 13% in 2009.

To your other question: if the weather is decent my neighborhood park is usually pretty packed, so yes kids do play outside. But kids congregate to play videogames way more than they play outside; it's just a fact of modern life.

[taroberts]

Yeah the park across from Haun is always full of parents and kids. Not full in a bad overcrowding way though.

[Big G]

My kid's middle school had a surveillance cam on the bike racks, feeding to the office. As long as the kids lock the bikes, should be OK.

[MckinneyOwnr]

In Plano I rode my bike to elementary, 1st through 5th grade. When you get to 6th grade however, the middle school was simply too far away to bike to, so most kids rode the bus, though kids that lived close enough can and did ride their bikes.

By junior high, 9th and 10th, biking was very rare, as it wasn't "cool." Plus by 10th grade kids started turning 16 and driving to school.

[PISDstudent]

My brother and most of his friends ride their bike to school. They're in 7th grade.

Second what Mckinney owner says about 9th grade and beyond - once the kids start turning 16, its much less common to see them biking.

[europeanone]

Thanks all for your responses! Truly appreciated!

[stan4]

I rode my bike or walked.

Everyone is always outside playing.

[London29]

I live in West Plano, zoned to Centennial Elementary School. There are maybe 1 or 2 kids who bike to school (one for sure because I see him in the morning).
The reason why I would never let my children bike to school is that where we live people drive like crazy! They have a hard time watching out for other cars, let alone bikes.