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tomwald

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Saratoga Springs, NY: Newt Gingrich weighs in -- let the kids bike

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st … yID=850757

Gingrich: Bike power -- Ex-GOP House speaker urges board to OK school commute

By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
First published in print: Friday, October 9, 2009

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Newt Gingrich -- the potential presidential candidate and former Republican U.S. House speaker -- is urging the city school district to end a policy that forbids students from bicycling to Maple Avenue Middle School.

Gingrich, just the latest, but certainly most high-profile personality to weigh in on the debate, wrote a letter to district officials arguing that the prohibition on bike riding to school harms efforts to keep children fit.

The controversy surrounds 12-year-old Adam Marino and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, who are defying Saratoga Springs school policy by biking to Maple Avenue Middle School on Route 9.

School officials say the prohibition is in place because of traffic concerns on the state road but they have indicated a willingness to reconsider the policy.

Adam says riding his bike to school keeps him healthy and makes him a better student.

Gingrich agreed with the youth, writing in the letter: "At a time when nearly one-third of American children and teens are overweight or on the brink of obesity, students like Adam who exhibit healthy behaviors should not be punished but rather rewarded.

"Overweight and obese children are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure -- health problems that were once confined to adults. Our country is facing a national crisis, and the time to act is now."

Adam and his mother, who live on Jackson Street, have pedaled more than 4 miles together each way to the middle school on nice days despite school officials and police telling him not to.

Gingrich noted he read the Times Union story about the controversy, an article that has generated outrage from libertarians who say the prohibition is an example of an overbearing government to fitness experts who say biking promotes health.

Gingrich encouraged the district to study other programs around the nation that promote fitness, including a Georgia school district that urges children to use pedometers on their walk to school and Niskayuna's "Walking School Bus" program that gets children walking to school.