Quite often I’m asked what made us decide to open a bike shop in Rockwall.  It was many things really.  Here’s one…

My son attends Pullen Elementary here in Rockwall/Heath, and we have made it a tradition to go to school every Friday by bike.  There is a very nice paved bike/walking path from a nearby neighborhood to the school, which provides a safe route for us.  So pretty much every Friday, we bike to and from school.  Not only are we outdoors together enjoying our bikes, we are making memories.  The desire to enable others to have similar experiences was a major motivator for bringing a bike shop to Rockwall. 

We started biking to school last year, long before we opened the bike shop.   Every week, I have noticed heads turning towards us from inside the many cars sitting in the carpool line at the school.  I’ve often wondered what they must be thinking seeing father and son bike to school.  The past few weeks I’ve noticed something else…more bikes in the bike rack at the school.  This week, we pulled up to the bike rack and it was almost totally FULL! 

As it turns out, at least 3 other dads have seen us biking to school and they have begun biking with their kids to school on Fridays.  I thanked each of these dads for supporting Rockwall Cycling by purchasing the bikes from us, then got to talking with them separately.  In the course of these conversations, I noticed everyone of them said the same thing—the time they spent riding bikes to school with their kids was one of the best experiences they have during the entire week with their kids.  And it appears to be mutual as well, as each dad told me their kids look forward to bike-to-school-Fridays all week long! 

So why do we ride our bikes?  For some, hopefully more soon, being able to bike to school with mom or dad is a memory-maker and new family tradition.  And as a bonus, this fun time with dad or mom has other benefits including exercise and saving gas and even time by avoiding the carpool lane!   (Side note:  a number of parents are also using the path to take the kids by golf cart.  I strongly support this as well when possible, as it saves gas!  Please visit our friend Paul Jasin at East Texas Golf Cars for information about how you could go by golf cart!)

Whether you and your kids ride a bike you bought from Rockwall Cycling or somewhere else, let me encourage you to find a way to bike with your kids.  And when you do, please let us know how it impacts you and your kids!  Remember, follow the rules of the road and make sure your kids wear their helmets. 

--Jason