Schools
Cycling Champ Cozza to Lead Petaluma Ride for Youth
Steven Cozza wants to encourage local kids and teens to hop on a bike instead of getting a car to get to school. "it's eco-friendly, a good workout and a lot cheaper than a car," says the former cycling pro.
When cycling champion and Petaluma High School grad Steven Cozza was living in Northern Europe, he saw that bicycles were very much a part of residents’ daily lives.
Kids pedaled to school and adults to work, maneuvering through the often-narrow streets to get to their destination.
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Despite the popularity of cycling in Sonoma County, the car is still the preferred method of transportation, something Cozza, now retired from cycling due to health reasons, hopes to change.
On October 3, he will lead a ride for local high school students to promote using local bike paths to get to school.
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“It’s eco-friendly, it saves you money and there is no reason you should be taking your big truck to school, especially if you live close by,” said the 27-year-old Cozza, who now works as a realtor in Petaluma.
The ride, called the Casa Grande Fundo, a spinoff of the word “fondo” and is one of half a dozen similar events around the county in honor of International Walk and Roll to School Day. Organizers want to encourage students to jump on a bike when going to school and say there is strong evidence that kids who cycle focus better in class.
The ride begins at 7:30am at Leghorns Park, located at 690 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, and is open to students from Casa Grande High School. A similar ride for students of Eastside elementary schools is also planned for that day.
For details, contact Bernie Album by emailing cadexbike@yahoo.com or Becky Chow at 766-7591 or visit www.sonomasaferoutes.org
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