SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jermaine Lester, 13, said for him, life is better with a bike.

“It’s fun when I’m racing my friends and stuff,” Lester said. “And trying to get somewhere quick. And I get my fitness in.”

He said his bike, which was donated to him by his school, Rosa Parks in South Sacramento, also helps make sure he gets to class on time.

Which he admits sometimes he can be lazy about, if he doesn’t have a bike to get him there. 

“A little faster than walking, and I don’t like walking. Lester said. “My feet start hurting [walking] and I wear Chuck Taylors all day. So, yeah, feet are always flat.”

The school’s principal Paul Hoerl Souza said he has given several of his student’s bikes to help with chronic absenteeism.

“I talked to a few kids, and I said, if I could get you a bike, would it help you get to school more often? And they said, absolutely,” Souza said.

For the 2022-2023 school year, California had a chronic absenteeism rate of 25%, meaning many kids missed around a month of classes in the school year, according to the California Department of Education.

Many kids at Rosa Parks Souza live in economically challenged areas with parents that are often juggling multiple jobs.

Students, he said, are also often asked to help look after siblings which can impact their education.

But Souza said community spirit is strong, which has led to him being able to giveaway bikes and get kids to school.

“I went to my next-door app and just thought, I just need to get three bikes for these kids,” Souza said. “Then someone on Next Door posted to Facebook, and it grew legs from there.” 

Souza said attendance has improved for the students he’s been able to give bikes to.

He added he wants to get bikes to as many as possible.

“People will say, I’ve got this bike or that bike, and I’ll say great we’ll take it,” Souza said. “It needs to be repaired. We’ll take it. It needs an inner tube. We’ll take it. Or if anybody wants to donate food because we’re constantly giving out snacks and food to kids. Anything, we’ll take.”

Souza said they’ve been able to partner with a nonprofit that helps them fix any bikes that need repairs.

It’s this type of generosity Lester said he hopes to see continue as he enters 8th grade.

“More kids with bikes and a bigger bike cage for kids,” Lester said.

Because Lester said when school is more accessible and fun to get to, it makes him want to go more.