Team Planetary Forces has chosen Bike safety as their Research Topic.They truly believe in their idea of creating Bike lanes in and around the schools in Forest Hills. The team did not stop their effort as the tournament ended, in fact they took further actions and contacted the local council woman of district 29 and was able to schedule a meeting with Council Woman Karen Koslowitz and later with NYC DOT representatives through Karen Koslowitz.


Planetary Forces took their proposal of creating Bike Lanes on the one way ABC... streets in Forest Hills to Council Woman Karen Koslowitz and discussed it with her at the 7/23/10 meeting and again at the 10/1/10 meeting with Karen Koslowitz, Maura McCarthy ( Queens Borough DOT Commissioner) and Hayes Lord(Acting Bicycle Program Coordinator for the NYC DOT) at Karen Koslowitz's office.

Planetary Forces shared their research on bike lanes, paths, bridges and their school surveys on transportation and proposals to reduce traffic congestion, pollution and car usage in their community. They also discussed the problem of childhood obesity and suggested bicycling as one way to combat this problem.  Maura McCarthy presented each of the boys with a DOT Medal for "Service Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty" and also brought along the "2010 NYC Bike Map" which showed the 30 year plan for 680 miles of bike paths and lanes for NYC.  We asked if the ABC... streets could be moved up on the agenda as PS101,PS144, The Metropolitan Schools and Our Lady of Mercy would all benefit from these bike lanes.  Hayes Lord also brought Bike Safety Brochures for the boys.  Hayes had organized the first "Bike to School Day" in NYC at a middle school in Brooklyn-comments on the DOT website by the kids were very positive.  First Lego Robotics took them on a great road trip this past year - FHLL, Aviation High School, Jacob Javitz and The office of the Queens Councilwoman and DOT.   

JoAnn