This kid is better looking than I was, he’s tatted up and he would not have passed the Serra High dress code. Otherwise, a perfect match.
By John Murphy
Today is National Walk and Roll to School Day. Back in the 1960s while attending Catholic grammar school, we didn’t have this junk.
As a first grader, I walked 5-6 blocks to school with my older siblings. We went to the same school as actress Suzanne Somers of “Three’s Company” and thigh-master fame — though she already graduated.
When I was older, I walked to school by myself or hopped on my gold Sting-Ray bicycle. That is, until my bike got stolen at the San Bruno Rec Center. Oh, the pain.
Back in the 1960s, kids were not chauffeured everywhere. There were times my parents drove us to school or ball games but just as often we walked.
I played a lot of baseball with a classmate named Steve Mutto. Sometimes we had more fun walking downtown after practice than playing ball. Given the number of corner markets, pinball arcades, and bakeries along the way, it was understandable.
By high school, walking was not an option. It was 11 miles to my Catholic high school in San Mateo so rides were arranged – though I recall taking the bus and hitchhiking on occasion. Hitching a ride is not recommended by the folks pushing National Walk and Roll to School Day.
My most memorable commute was in 1974 when I rode my Raleigh 10-speed down to 451 West 20th Avenue (Serra High School).
Along the way I rolled through Hillsborough to check out the mansions. Pedaling up a well-manicured, tree-lined street, I saw a large gathering of satellite trucks. Odd. But then it dawned on me — this is the Hearst Mansion and Patty Hearst was just kidnapped!
I took in the circus briefly, shook my head and pedaled on. I still had five miles to go, and I didn’t want detention.
Main Street Dog 