San Leandro Spirit
San Leandro Superheroes Make Biking to Work a Treat
By Susie Hufstader
Each year on Bike to Work Day, Dr. Sheila Donnelly of Healing Hands Chiropractic wakes up at the crack of dawn to bake muffins and cookies for her Energizer Station at Memorial Park on Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro. She goes the extra mile to put the “energy” in her Energizer Station. Riders traversing San Leandro on their way to school, work, or BART can expect a warm welcome from greeters in superhero aprons, fresh coffee, and a signature Bike to Work Day canvas bag.
Dr. Donnelly loves the collaboration that goes into the biggest bike day of the year. “This is what I enjoy most about Bike to Work Day,” she says, “so many people getting together and helping. It is a community effort and spirit.”
Dr. Donnelly’s Memorial Park Energizer Station is special for San Leandro. Each year, city staff, elected officials, and community members gather there to celebrate. After fueling up, everyone rides together to the city’s other major Energizer Station at San Leandro BART, hosted by the city’s Engineering and Transportation department.
Memorial Park’s location on Bancroft Avenue is also significant for the San Leandro biking community. It is a major cross-town bike route and home to Bancroft Middle School, San Leandro High School, and several elementary schools. Many students already bike along and across Bancroft. Christian Rodríguez, a 5th grader, writes: “I like biking to school because of nature. I love the breeze…I want to bike to school next year in junior high, I am very excited.”
As a connector to schools, Bancroft was a major focus of the 2018 update to the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. During the planning process, Bike Walk San Leandro and Bike East Bay successfully campaigned for a vision of a more continuous low- stress bikeway. Now, both groups are supporting the city in implementing long-term upgrades for many Bike to Work (and School!) days to come.
Join in celebrating a great Bike to Work Day with bike-loving San Leandro on May 9th. Stop by Dr. Sheila Donnelly’s Energizer Station from 7:00am-9:00am for an exceptional start to the day. If you’re not a morning person, join Bike Walk San Leandro at the Englander Pub for evening happy hour. As Dr. Donnelly says, “There are fantastic human beings who live in this community.” Whether at an annual event like Bike to Work Day or building a better Bancroft Avenue for the future, the team effort in San Leandro makes biking a treat.
