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Here are some exciting highlights and updates from the Transportation Authority of Marin's Safe Routes to School program.
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Bike to School Day May 9th
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 Wednesday, May 9th is the first annual National Bike to School Day. The inaugural National Bike to School Day will be the first opportunity for communities across the country to join together and bicycle to school on the same day. The event builds on the excitement surrounding National Bike Month, led by the League of American Bicyclists each May, as well as the popularity of Walk to School Day, coordinated by the National Center for Safe Routes to School every October. Events that register will appear on the site as "Bike to School Day Pioneers." Registering a Bike to School Day event provides organizers access to a variety of downloadable materials, including stickers, certificates, badges and classroom activities and provides the opportunity to win a bike rack.
Special Marin County posters, flyers and stickers are available by contacting Laura or can be downloaded.
You may also choose to hold your event on Bike to Work Day on May 10th to take advantage of the 17 energizer stations in Marin that will be giving away bike to work day bags stuffed with free goodies. Locate the energizer stations near your school.
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Kentfield Schools Final Results
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Kentfield School District wrapped up their pilot of the innovative trip-tracking scanner program - Active4.me - to help build environmental awareness and encourage green travel to school. The keychain program tracked student's "green" trips to school and converted that information into useful statistics such as total miles and CO2 saved for each student and school (see more results).
Throughout the five-week Challenge, volunteers scanned kids on Wednesdays and one surprise day each week through sunny days and torrential rain! The results surpassed our expectations -- 50% of our students at Bacich and 34% of students at Kent participated in the program. A total of 1,776 pounds of CO2 were saved and 80,000 calories burned. The Kent students are also using the contest to raise funds for the World Bicycle Relief to send bicycles to African children.
Thanks to everyone who made the Challenge a success, in particular the student Green Team at Bacich and the Eco-Action Club at Kent; the Student Travel Program Neighborhood Captains; Peet's Coffee; Somersault Snacks; Hint Water; and finally, local retailers, Village Peddler and Arch Rival for their generous donations of bike gear, locks, and gift certificates to recognize participating students chosen by a random drawing this week.
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Davidson Bike Club Rides Bay Trail
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The Davidson Bike Club is busy preparing for National Bike to School Day and a bike ride to San Francisco (with help from the ferry). Recently the club rode the Bay Trail near Pickleweed Park and the Bay Trail near the Corte Madera Marshes.
During rainy days the club made Lego bikes. The bike club meets after-school Thursdays and is open to any Davidson Middle School student. For more info ask a Davidson PE teacher or visit our blog.
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National Update:
Congress Passes 90 Day Extension
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The House of Representatives opted to pass another 90-day extension of the Transportation Bill, until September 30. However, this extension was really a means of getting to conference on the transportation bill. A conference is a process whereby the House and Senate negotiate the differences between their two bills to come up with a final product that can be approved by both the House and Senate and then signed into law.
In essence, House leaders determined they did not have the votes to move forward on their own transportation bill, HR7, so instead passed the extension as a "shell bill" to go to conference negotiations with the Senate bill, MAP-21 which is more favorable to Safe Routes to Schools and other bicycle and pedestrian programs. In addition to extending current law, the House bill also included language requiring the approval of the Keystone pipeline and the environmental streamlining provisions from HR 7. More information on this procedure can be found at the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership
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Women on Wheels | |
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Women on Wheels will once again offer special bike classes for women, taught by women this summer. These classes will help women to develop the skills and confidence they need to ride the roads. A new clinic will be offered in July to help women prepare for charity and endurance rides.
In these clinics women will learn the foundations of road and path cycling.
- Improve your confidence and knowledge
- Learn to turn and shift
- Gain the confidence to bike around cars
- Learn to climb and descend hills
- New! - Prepare for endurance rides
More Details or contact Peggy |
Safe Routes to Schools 
