Jersey High School Students Protest Anti-Bike Policy

"It didn't seem that logical. It would be at nocost to them," [club co-president Michelle] Slosberg, 18, said yesterday as sheslipped on her bike helmet and prepared for a nearly20-minute ride home.

"Actually, they said no on Earth Day," remarkedKatherine Dransfield, a senior who has tried, with a groupof other students, to start a bike club. "Essentiallywhat they told us was that they didn't want to promotebiking as a way to get to school."

Slosberg and Dransfield said Riccobono expressed concernsover the safety of students jostling with the heavy bus andcar traffic in front of the school and biking along busyGarretson Road.

But many students don't see it that way. SeniorTalia Perry, 18, dressed in sporty biking gear andsunglasses, said she and her friends were quite "workedup" after the school refused "what we portrayed asa gift to the school."

Offended by the snub, students promptly began planning aresponse. Yesterday, more than 50 students rode their bikesto school, commuting in pairs and groups. After studying upon state biking laws -- and carrying copies with them -- thestudents legally tethered their bikes in conspicuousclusters around lamp posts, trees and other poles dottingthe circular drive in front of the school.

"In as much as the district provides courtesy busingto students who live within walking distance of the highschool, because of the danger on Garretson Road, it does(not) make sense, in my opinion, to promote the riding ofbicycles to school," the letter read.