safe routes logoSafe Routes to Schools

E-Newsletter        May  2013
In This Issue
Bike to School Day May 8th
Tam High Takes a Stand vs. Txtng
Challenge Winners
Tam High Distracted Driving
Spring Contest Challenges
Save These Dates:

Safe Routes to Schools National partnership Annual Meeting:

August 12, 2013 

Sacramento

 

Safe Routes to Schools National Conference:
August 13-14, 2013

Sacramento

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sign up today for The National Safe Routes to Schools Conference in Sacramento on August 13-15.  

 

Read more of our News Highlights.  

  

 

Bike to School Day

Bike Trains Roll Across the County

 

Thirty-three (33) schools held Bike to School Day events across the county in May, nine more schools than last year! 

 

Bacich Elementary School held a Community Coffee Social where 11 separate organized bike to school day Blackies pasturerides converged led by Neighborhood Captains.   Highway Patrol, County Sheriff, and the Kentfield Fire Department escorted the rides, along with many parents, teachers, and school staff.  The Village Peddler bike shop in Larkspur set up a "Bike Safety Station" in the Bacich Quad to pump up tires, check helmet safety, and do quick bike safety checks.  The County's Sheriff was on hand to collect Bike Registrations to help find stolen bicycles in the district. 

Neil Cummins, Hall and Redwood schools joined forces for their annual ride utilizing the bike paths in Larkspur and Corte Madera to reach their respective schools. 

 

  • At Neil Cummins:  178 bikes, 6 scooters, and 1 skateboard parked throughout the campus.  This is 29 more than last year!
  • At Hall:  164 bikes and 4 scooters parked throughout campus.  This is 48 more than last year!

Hundreds of students and parents met at Blackie's Pasture in Tiburon to bike to the three Reed School District Schools.  Events were held throughout the county.  The bike racks were full at Old Mill, Wade Thomas, Brookside, Glenwood, Manor, and Lycee Francais.  Reports continue to come in.

View more pictures in our Gallery

 

Tam High Students Take a Stand Against Txtng

 

 
Tam High Take the Pledge

The Peer Resource class at Tamalpais High School teamed up with Safe Routes to Schools to raise awareness that distracted driving, including texting behind the wheel, can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.  The April 29th event included a variety of activities to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, and primarily focused on texting and talking while driving.

 

Students tried to text while driving around an obstacle course, played dodge ball with cell phones in hand, and participated in other engaging activities to help drive the point home.  See the video on the Mill Valley Patch

 

  

Congratulations to Challenge Winners

 

  Brookside Trophy        

Six schools challenged each other during the Spring Contest.  Strawberry Elementary School bested Old Mill Elementary School by a fraction of a percentage point.  Strawberry increased by 10.9% and Old Mill by 10.8%.  I'd call them both winners. 

 

  

Brookside Elementary School beat out Bacich Elementary School.  While Bacich showed a respectable percentage increase,  Brookside jumped 12% to 64% green trips.  Hall and Kent Middle Schools had a friendly rivalry over walking and biking trips.  Hall maintained its 45% walk/bike trips to beat out Kent. 

 

 

Tiburon Explores Bike Trains
 

 

Bel Aire Bike Train

Community Action to Reduce Traffic (CART) was launched on October 7, 2011 when then Vice Mayor Jim Fraser and Councilmember Jeff Slavitz convened a meeting with Belvedere and school representatives to investigate and tackle the seemingly intractable problem of traffic congestion on Tiburon Boulevard.  The committee has issued its final report which can be viewed here.  One piece of the final recommendation is to introduce Bike Trains along the Tiburon Bike Path, starting one day a week.  A sub-committee has been formed to develop the program.  If all goes well, look to see bike trains running along the pathway starting next fall. 

 

Register Now for SRTS National Conference

 

    Sun Valley Walk to SChool Day

Registration is now open for the 4th Safe Routes to School National Conference, to be held August 13-15 in Sacramento, CA. Early-bird registration fees will be available through June 28. The conference registration deadline is Tuesday, July 23.

Register now at www.SafeRoutesConference.org.


 
The conference program will include nearly 60 plenaries, breakouts, implementation workshops and MindMixer sessions. It will focus on Safe Routes to School case studies and best practices from around the country; innovative funding strategies and successful partnerships; addressing Safe Routes to School needs in disadvantaged communities; exciting new technologies and tools; proven engagement strategies and messaging; implementable local, regional and statewide Safe Routes to School policies; Safe Routes to School in rural communities; safety and enforcement; evaluating Safe Routes to School; engaging youth (with presentations by dynamic youth leaders); and much more!