'Ride Yo Trike' to Longmont High School

December 10, 7:48 PMLongmont ExaminerBrigette Rodriguez

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LHS students on trikes at 7am getting ready to go

Want to know why there were half a dozen police cars and an ambulance at Longmont High School, cordoning off a street at 7am this morning?  Just ask the students who today probably had the biggest grins on their faces later during the school day. 

This morning, two high school students from Longmont organized their fellow students in a trike event for charity.  All they asked of them was "don't break them" and "there is an ambulance nearby if you die, but don't die." 

Longmont High School seniors Mike Sundberg and Larkin Poynton were bored weeks ago and came up with the idea to get other students at their school to show up one morning and ride tricycles to school...down a public street. Give it a cool name called "Ride Yo Trike." 

LHS Principal Rick Olsen gets 'em ready!

They then decided they would donate the trikes to charity in time for Christmas. (My feeling is that this was also one way they get could the idea approved by Principal Rick Olsen, who was so inspired by his student's idea that he was the starting line announcer for this morning's event!)

Larkin and Mike got the proper permit to close off the street next to the school, but they ran into a little problem when the city decided they needed insurance (in case they fell off their trikes and got a boo-boo...come on, they're not babies). But, Mike went before city council last week (with a little help from his Mom with a tie) to request an insurance waiver as this would have delayed their event and prevent them from donating these trikes in time for Christmas. Councilwoman Karen Benker recognized the value of what these two high school students wanted to do and was able to assist with their request. 

As one of my own teens attends a crosstown rival school, I decided to donate a trike. So trike in hand I went to show my support and get my story. In temperatures below 20 degrees and with half a dozen Longmont traffic police blocking off the street to insure their safety , and a paramedic ambulance in waiting...Larkin, Mike and a enthusiastic group of students (and supportive parents and school staff), took off pedaling following their police pace car. Down they traveled for over a block in front of their school on big wheels, tricycles, and on two brand spanking new pink and blue Huffy Cruiser bicycles that they told me a "Secret Santa" had dropped off at the school the day before.

With apologies to the band Queen, I started humming "I like to ride my tricycle, I like to ride my trike..."

Longmont High School girls on trikes

When they had crossed the finish line (with some helpful towing from a couple of fellow friends on bigger bikes) they had counted and collected over 75 donated trikes and bikes into a waiting moving van for donation to St Vrain Community Council's Holiday Giving Program, which will distribute the donated bikes to kids in need. Local businesses also donated breakfast afterwards.

So, go ahead and ask the grinning students at Longmont High about the great thing they did this morning (while a lot of us where probably still in line for our morning coffee at Starbucks). They'd also tell you that no trikes where seriously injured during the making of this event. 

Thanks Mike & Larkin...you did good!

I'd tell you that I saw a lot of promising young high schoolers who combined a fun idea with a way to give to others this Christmas. A very adult thing to do, even while reliving your childhood.