Student Essays

For Earth Day 2010, CTC member Audubon Society of RI challenged students grades 3 - 12 to respond to the lead-in "I want to bike and walk but..."

The students addressed their essays, poems or raps to their town's mayor and submitted their work individually or had it selected by teachers from 27 classrooms in 19 municipalities. The students wrote about barriers encountered in walking or bicycling to school or visiting family and friends and suggested solutions.

Three judges -- a retired civil engineer, a master policy advocate, and an environmental educator -- assigned numeric evaluation based on understanding of issues, benefits of not combusting gasoline, and merits of writing to each submission. Additional points were given for illustrations, which accompanied most entries.

Three winners were selected from each grade and prizes were presented in ceremonies at each winner's school.

Below is a selection of the pieces submitted as part of the contest.
An archive of essays from towns across Rhode Island can be accessed by e-mailing emarks@asri.org.

* Make North Kingstown a more bike friendly place -- Alex D. Dicenso

* Builing a bike path in Tiverton -- Kenny Ferreira

* A plea for safer streets -- Annie Coaty

* Bike Riding To School Song -- Annie Glassie, Maddie O'Shea, and Issy Casey

* A high school senior’s take on Pawtucket -- Kayla Laferriere

* The view from Block Island -- Selena Spier

* "Bikes were like breathing to my friends and me" -- Shannon Flynn

* Request to Mayor Avedesian -- TJ Boyajin