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Who says middle schoolers aren't inspired? After a recent visit with students at Nightingale Middle School by reps from CicLAvia and the Flying Pigeon LA bike shop, one of the kids decided to take it to the neighborhood's top dog and straight up ask for more bicycle lanes in his community, because, frankly, his community is full of unhealthy kids.Jackson Huang handwrote a letter to City Councilman Ed Reyes. Here's what he wrote, as posted on Flying Pigeon LA's site:
Dear Honorable Councilmember Ed Reyes, I am here to talk about getting new bike lanes in front of my school. My school is Nightingale Middle School. I remember you came to my school 3 weeks ago.
The LA City bike Plan of 2010 states that bicycle lanes of Ave 28 and Cypress Ave will be added. The reason why we need bike lanes is because there are kids in this area that are overweight or obese. Kids can get exercise while riding their bikes home and lessening the risk of obesity.
Please do as much as you can in your power to support these bike lanes.
Sincerely,
Jackson Huang
c/o D3 Lab of Nightingale
3311 N Figueroa St
Los Angeles CA 90065
* Cypress Avenue - from Pepper Avenue to Arroyo Seco Avenue (0.48 miles - immediately alongside NMS)
* Avenue 28 - from Pepper Avenue to Figueroa Street (0.48 miles - one block from NMS)
Flying Piegeon is advocating that others in Huang's Cypress Park community write similar letters, or send tweets and emails along the same lines in order to drive the message home. Hopefully not only will Reyes answer young Mr. Huang, but also the community will soon have safer streets for bicyclists so kids and adults can get in a few more blocks of healthy car-free activity. You go, Jackson!
