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Bunny Hopping the Roadblocks to Success: Bicycling and Safe Routes to School
Dave Cowan, Program Manager, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Robert Ping, Technical Assistance Director, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Shane MacRhodes, SRTS Program Manager, 4j School District
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Founded in 2005 500 organizations, agencies and schools Changes policies at national, state and local levels
Provides best practices, technical assistance, and builds leadership www.saferoutespartnership.org
Dave Cowan Program Manager
Technical Assistance – CPPW, CTG,
TARC (California), local, regional and
state SRTS programs
Authored Local Policy Guide, Bicycle
and Pedestrian Curricula Guide, CPPW
and SRTS.
Education Director Bicycle Colorado
League Certified Instructor - LAB
Educated 30,000+ students
National SRTS Course Certified Trainer
Shane MacRhodes Program Manager Eugene School District 4J
Robert Ping Technical Assistance Director
Technical Assistance – CPPW, CTG, TARC (California), National
Learning Network, Fee for Service
State Network Project - Policy Change in 20 States
Congressional SRTS Task Force
Portland SRTS Program Manager
Oregon SRTS Technical Assistance
Bicycle Safety Education - Oregon and CA Bay Area
SF Bay Area: Policy, Bicycle Advocacy, Earn-a-Bike, Youth
Mentoring, Youth Education, Environmental Advocacy
Various committees: School Siting, Diversity, Childhood Obesity,
National Physical Plan, Bicycle Education Network, Portland SRTS
Today’s Agenda:
• Introduction • The Bicycle Stigma • Bicycling in Lower-Income Communities • Bike Fleets • Bike Trains • Bicycle Safety Curricula • Bike Parking, Storage and Security • Building Relationships in the Community • Tapping into Bicycle Expertise • Building Bicycling in the Community • School Policies that Support Bicycling to School • Questions and (hopefully) Answers
Identify the Roadblocks to Success
SFGate
SFGate
SFGate
National Policy Advocacy
State Network Project
Regional Network Project
Technical Assistance
Cycling is Viewed as a Rich White Man’s Sport • Bike advocacy has not been inclusive • Emphasis has been on elite riding • That can change! SRTS may be doing just that…
Equipment • Purchase and Maintenance Costs • Storage and Parking
Trips for Kids - Denver
Bicycling in Lower-Income Communities
In 38% of schools, at least half of students are lower-income 42% of US children live in lower-income families Lower-income children twice as likely to walk to school Higher risk of being injured or killed as pedestrians—often due to neighborhood
barriers
Perception: SRTS is only benefiting middle or higher-income schools and communities
Lack of attention on SRTS best practices/examples in lower-income communities
Not many technical assistance resources focused on unique challenges
It Takes Time to Build Trust and Credibility • Make sure that the community is represented • Don’t expect change in attitude right away
It’s OK to Talk About Race, Class and Culture! • Cultural competence – bring a partner who is, if you are not • Don’t expect resolution, just listen, consider and plan
The Challenge
Lack of planners and engineers needed to apply for and implement SRTS.
Promising Practices
Wilmington, DE Area MPO - Environmental Justice Initiative drives their transportation work. EX: Southbridge neighborhood circulation
study, convening partners, and applying for SRTS funds.
Feet First, Seattle, WA - bilingual AmeriCorps volunteer at Concord International Elementary is community SRTS organizer:
recruiting volunteers
engaging partners
developing walking school bus
gets the program going
prepares school and parents to sustain the program
Professional Expertise
The Challenge
51% of lower-income parents jobs prevent
involvement in school activities
Language barriers and immigration status
Promising Practices
Nichols Elementary School, Detroit, MI - parents get monthly stipends to lead walking school buses. When funding ran dry, junior high students stepped up to walk younger children
TransForm, Alameda County, CA - combining SRTS with parent leadership development and advocacy training.
EX: Global Family School, Oakland: parents learn how to lead walking school buses, how to participate in neighborhood crime prevention meetings, how to engage neighbors in improving safety for kids.
Parental Involvement
The Challenge
Many children walk and bike to school despite high rates of crime and violence
Children are 5 times more likely to walk and bike to school when safety is not a primary concern
Promising Practices
Dawes School - Chicago Area Policing Program: parent patrols and walking school bus leaders use walkie-talkies to report crime and call for help, and safe havens with local businesses
Thomas Elementary, Flagstaff, AZ: police substation near WSB park, local businesses stopped selling “40s”, and walking school bus
Zavala Elementary, Austin, TX: corner captains and walking school buses get more eyes on the street and get more children to walk in groups
Personal Safety: Crime and Violence
Local Program Recommendations
Have expertise in SRTS or developing travel plans? – offer help to an underserved school Advocates: see if DOT will fund you to lead program – and try local stipends to parents, other leaders Meet with leaders from underserved communities, communities of color, immigrants Make sure that communities are represented on committees, task forces, school team Partner with: community groups, churches, clubs, agencies, neighborhood businesses
Traffic Safety Education
Salem, Oregon Bicycle Club
Access to Bicycles and Equipment
Repair and Maintenance
Traffic Safety Education
Traffic Safety Education
Infrastructure Improvements
National/State Policy Recommendations
Create simple evaluation tools to measure safety improvements—not just mode shift State SRTS programs should:
Track economic and geographic distribution of applications and awards Provide extra help to underserved communities and schools during application and implementation
State advisory committees should include underserved communities, communities of color
Safe Routes to School State Network Project: 2007-2011
Funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Local Policy Recommendations
Involve underserved community leaders/champions in planning – committees, task forces, school teams Advocate that city/county governments build solutions for underserved schools and communities into budgets, policies, programs Encourage school districts to pass walk/bike policies at all schools and ensure that underserved schools get support and resources to apply for SRTS grants.
Resource: Low-Income Communities
Guide and 2 webinars available at saferoutespartnership.org/lowincomeguide
Resource:Local Policy Guide
Evaluation
Evaluation
Funding, Organizing and Maintaining Bicycle Fleets
Bicycle Fleets
Funding Bicycle Fleets
• Safe Routes for Non-Drivers, TE
• Foundations (obesity, active lifestyles, environment)
• Donations (local corporations, businesses)
• School Fundraising
• Specialized Dealer Grants
• Caroline White Pep Grants
Maintenance
Finding and Choosing Bikes
Finding and Choosing Bikes
Maintenance
• Types of bikes
• Local Bike Shops
• Volunteer events
• Build a Bike Program Trainees
Organizing Fleets
Success Story
Bicycle Safety Education in the Classroom
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Funding from CPPW
City partnered with Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition
All 174 elementary schools will receive traffic safety lessons
Organizing Successful Bike Trains
What is a bike train?
Similarities and differences to a walking school bus
Map It Pick a meeting spot(s) and the choose the route(s)
Schedule It Pick a start date, recurring day(s) and time(s)
Spread the word Meetings, newsletters, online, flyers
Create the structure Set guidelines, assign conductors & cabooses,
Other Considerations
• Safety
•Weather
• Resources
Have fun!
Bicycle Parking, Storage and Security
Why is Adequate Bike Parking Important?
• Safe Routes is building more bicyclists
• Kids won’t ride without a safe and obvious place to park
• Helps promote Safe Routes program
• Quick engineering improvement to show
progress
• Demonstrates school support for bicycling
Strategies for Improving Bicycle Parking
• Talking with power people
• Building support
• Funding for bicycle racks
• Siting for racks
• Choosing the right number of racks
• Choosing the right type of racks
• Rack installation
• Rack maintenance and education
• Scooters and skateboards
Talk with your Power People
• Present at PTA meeting
• Talk with school staff and parents
• Meet with school principal
• Check in with city or county staff
• Contact state safe routes coordinator
• Local advocacy organizations and
neighborhood groups
Bad Bike Racks
Bad Bike Racks?
Common Issues:
• Located out of normal sight
• No entryway access
• Near obstacles (bushes, walls, etc..)
• On grass or dirt
• Not secured to ground
• Don’t promote bicycling
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Bad Bike Racks?
Choosing the Right Type of Racks
• Support frame at two points, allow one of the frame’s triangles and front wheel to be locked to the rack
• Have space in between racks and bicycles to move freely and to prevent bicycles from touching each other.
• Are securely mounted into the ground or bolted to the sidewalk or concrete slab
• Are resistant to cutting, rusting, or bending.
Siting Racks – Positive Example:
Benjamin Franklin high school, Portland, OR
• High visibility area
• Near entrances
• Out of the way of foot traffic
• Away from walls, bushes, or
obstacles
• Plenty of space around racks
• On a hard surface
• Racks can be in multiple locations
Beach Elementary, Portland, OR
• 2007-08 had no bicycling policy
• Joined Safe Routes in 2008-09
• School had nowhere to park bicycles
Beach Elementary, Portland, OR
• PTA requested racks from City
• Concord Neighborhood Greenway
• Bike train
• 20 staple racks installed
• Bicycles use all capacity
Beach Elementary, Portland, OR
Covered Bicycle Racks
Belleview Elementary
Ashland, OR
Photo by: Derek Severson
Rack Maintenance and Education
Educate with: • Signage near racks
• Staff/parents teaching at racks
• Part of education class
• Frequent reminders
Security
U-Locks
Security in Low Income or High Crime Areas
• Bicycle cages
• Indoor parking
• Community cable lock
• Ensure high visibility racks
Building Relationship in the Community
SFGate
Shops, Clubs, Groups and Teams are the Experts! SRTS advocates often don’t have bicycle expertise Bicycling often stalls in SRTS without your input Bicycling needs more resources than walking
• Cross promotion
• Staff/member Volunteers
• Bike and helmet donations, or dealer cost (fleet?)
• Century Ride/Race donation
• Special Event for SRTS
• Repairs and Parts
• Represent Business/Club/Team at Policy/Funding Meetings
• Join SRTS Committee
• Sponsor Club or Team at School
• Shop is Safe Haven
• Build Course/Track/Skills Area
Bicyclists > SRTS
• Shop, Club, Team, Group PR - Logo Placement, “Sponsored by”
• Shop is ride destination
• Shop is Bike Train/WSB Stop
• SRTS connects bicyclists with school
• SRTS creates ‘feeder’ members
• SRTS connects bicyclists with local leaders, policymakers
• SRTS ‘goodwill’ helps with advocacy and promotions
• SRTS grant could mean business
SRTS > Bicyclists
School Staff Bicyclists
Lewis Elementary Teachers, Portland Oregon
Bike Commute Challenge Team
Bicycling in the Community
Kidical Mass, Ciclovia’s, Parades, and more
Kidical Mass
Kidical Mass Theme rides & more
classic (ice cream!) Pirate/Treasure Hunt
Pajama Party Bike to Baseball
Bike & Boat School Spirit
Bugs Superhero/heroine
Geocaching Pumpkin carving
Fancy Pants holiday lights
kidical camping
Community Events
Have Fun!
Supportive Bicycling Policies
The Myth of Sisyphus (sis-e-fuss)
A policy is:
• a statement in writing
• binding
• setting out a general approach to be applied broadly
What is a Policy?
Policy institutionalizes good ideas.
Policy reaches more people.
Policy allows for accountability, enforcement and consistent implementation.
Policy establishes relationships & responsibilities.
Bicycling Policies
• Supportive Bicycling Policies
• Bike Parking Policies
• Arrival/Dismissal Policies
• Traffic Safety in the Curriculum
• Bike Train Policies?
• School Siting Policies
• Fleet Management (Joint Use)
Thank you!
Shane MacRhodes, SRTS Program Manager, 4j School District [email protected]
Robert Ping, TA Director, Safe Routes to School National
Partnership [email protected]
Dave Cowan, Program Manager, Safe Routes to School
Questions, Comments?