Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #37: January 2009
Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a growing national network of more than 350 non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional groups that are working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide detailed policy input to implementing agencies for advancing the Safe Routes to School national movement.
Please forward Safe Routes to School E-News to others who may be interested!
To receive future issues of E-News, email info@saferoutespartnership.org.
In this issue:
1. 2nd Safe Routes to School Conference Call for Proposals
Submit proposals by the February 2 deadline
2. 2009 National Bike Summit, March 10-12 in Washington, DC
Register by February 5 for the early bird rate
3. SRTSNP Welcomes Our Newest National Partners
Join the Partnership today! It’s free.
4. Federal Update - Stimulus Bill, Transportation, Climate, and School Siting
Take action now to ensure SRTS projects are on stimulus lists
5. President-Elect Obama Selects Ray LaHood for Transportation Secretary
LaHood, R-IL, is known to work well across party lines and to support bicycling
6. New CDC Report Shows Prevalence of Childhood Bike/Ped Injuries
To access the report, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/images/CDC-ChildhoodInjury.pdf
7. Safe Routes to School State Network Project Update
Lessons learned in 2008 and looking forward to the new year
8. Colorado SRTS Receives Thirty-Nine Applications in 4th Application Cycle
63 programs and projects currently approved for SRTS, including 199 schools
9. Maine’s SRTS Program Expanding
Voters recently passed a $200,000 bond for SRTS projects
10. Safe Routes to School News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links
1. 2nd Safe Routes to School Conference Call for Proposals
Submit proposals by the February 2 deadline
The 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference will be taking place August 19-21, 2009 at the Hilton Portland in Portland, Oregon. A special health workshop will also be held on August 18. A call for proposals is currently open with a February 2, 2009 deadline. To submit your presentation or poster proposal and for details about key subjects and themes of the conference, please visit http://www.saferoutesconference.org.
Presentations and posters should exemplify Safe Routes to School programs’ ability to address a range of issues that affect our society, and give schoolchildren the tools to change habits and stay two steps ahead of health issues, environmental problems, and traffic congestion. The conference will offer 90-minute workshops and interactive 180-minute training opportunities that allow for more in-depth discussion and hands-on events. Presenters should focus their messages on a single age group (K-5, middle school or high school) or geographic location (urban, suburban, rural). Any individual, organization, business, non-profit, or public agency that is actively engaged in Safe Routes to School and can demonstrate experiential success is invited to submit a proposal for presentation and/or posters.
The Safe Routes to School National Conference is co-presented by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the National Center for Safe Routes to School with hosting and coordination by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, Oregon.
2. 2009 National Bike Summit, March 10-12 in Washington, DC
Register by February 5 for the early bird rate
The theme of the League of American Bicyclists’ 2009 National Bike Summit is Go for Green: Building Bicycling into the Transportation Bill. Bicyclists led the Good Roads movement in the 1880s, successfully lobbying for paved roads to drag our nation out of the mud. In 2009, the stage is set for bicyclists to once again lead reform of our country’s transportation system. A “smart” transportation movement is needed to solve the challenges of climate change, obesity, congestion, pollution, safety, and dependence on foreign oil. The 2009 National Bike Summit is focused on making a powerful case for expanding federal support for bicycling – for active transportation and recreation. Join fellow advocates, industry leaders, and retailers as we make our voice for change heard: we have a new President, new Congress and new administration to address. The new Congress begins writing a new federal transportation funding bill and bicyclists must be at the table. Please attend: every Congressional District needs to be represented.
If you are planning on attending the National Bike Summit, and are involved with Safe Routes to School, please contact Margo Pedroso. There will be a special workshop on Safe Routes to School, and Hill packets will include information for Congressional members about Safe Routes to School.
To register today (and to view descriptions of Summit workshops), please visit http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit09/index.php
3. SRTSNP Welcomes Our Newest National Partners
Join the Partnership today! It’s free.
The Partnership welcomes Cool the Earth, EcoMom Alliance, National Association for Sport and Physical Education, and National Wildlife Federation as our newest national partners. These four organizations make a great addition to the Partnership. We also welcome our new state and local partners, and look forward to working with all partners to advance Safe Routes to School nationwide.
Cool the Earth is a ready-to-run program that educates K-8 students and their families about global warming and inspires them to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. EcoMom Alliance is a non-profit organization inspiring and empowering women to help reduce the climate crisis and create a sustainable future. National Association for Sport and Physical Education is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
The Partnership is working to ensure that the $612 million in Safe Routes to School federal dollars are spent, and on good projects. We are also leveraging additional resources for Safe Routes to School, developing State Networks to foster policy changes, educating policy makers, and leading the charge to create a culture that encourages safe bicycling and walking to and from schools throughout the nation. We greatly appreciate our partners’ help in changing the habits of an entire generation.
Organizations joining the partnership commit to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding and support SRTS efforts. More than 350 groups have pledged their support for the Partnership by signing the MOU. Join our growing list of supporting organizations and become a partner affiliate today! It’s free.
4. Federal Update - Stimulus Bill, Transportation, Climate, and School Siting
Take action now to ensure SRTS projects are on stimulus lists
Over the next couple of weeks, Washington, DC is the site of many ceremonial events. Last week, Congress convened the new 111th Congress and swore in newly-elected Senators and Representatives. Next week the Presidential Inauguration will take place and President-elect Obama will take the oath of office on January 20.
One of the first legislative priorities Congress and the new Administration will take up is the economic stimulus/recovery bill. The package is expected to invest hundreds of billions in funding into infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, and schools in an attempt to jumpstart the economy. The details are still being worked out by Congress, but are likely to be finalized in the next month. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership continues to work with our national partner organizations to advocate for the inclusion of funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects—including Safe Routes to School and Complete Streets projects—in the economic stimulus/recovery bill. Meanwhile, we are also asking advocates to work at the state and local levels to ensure that Safe Routes to School and bike/ped projects are included on state and local lists of ready-to-go projects. Please see our action alert for more details, including sample talking points and a letter template.
Also on the legislative calendar for this year is the next transportation bill. As we’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, the Safe Routes to School program is up for reauthorization along with all other highway programs. At this point, it seems that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee will kick off consideration of the bill in late spring, but it will take at least several more months to go through the legislative process. We are working to educate Members of Congress about the value of Safe Routes to School and to make the case for strengthening funding levels, expanding the program to high schools, increasing research and evaluation, and easing the burdens of implementation.
Another item expected to come up for consideration by spring is climate change legislation. One way to reduce greenhouse gases is to cut back on the number of miles people drive—which is one outcome of the cumulative efforts of Safe Routes to School programs. We are working closely with a coalition of environmental and smart growth groups to ensure that any greenhouse gas bill is linked to increasing transportation choices so that more families can safely and easily walk, bicycle, and take public transit.
In 2009, EPA will be issuing voluntary school siting guidelines, in response to December 2007 legislation. School siting is a very important policy issue in the SRTS movement as the number one reason parents give for why their children don’t walk or bicycle to school is distance. The purpose of this effort is to provide state and local planning agencies, which are directly responsible for the location of schools, with guidance in respect to environmental issues when making siting decisions. EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection and Environmental Education is designated as the lead office to manage this agency-wide effort. As a first step in assisting states and other organizations, this November, EPA launched an information clearing house that can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting.html
5. President-Elect Obama Selects Ray LaHood for Transportation Secretary
LaHood, R-IL, is known to work well across party lines and support bicycling
President-Elect Obama announced recently that former Congressman Ray LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, is his selection to serve as the new Secretary of Transportation. Congressman LaHood is a moderate that is known to have worked well across party lines. He most recently served on the House Appropriations Committee for several years, and previously served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The League of Illinois Bicyclists shares that Congressman LaHood is an active supporter of bicycling and trails, and stood up against his party leadership to support the Transportation Enhancements program, which provides a great deal of funding to bicycle and pedestrian projects. In floor remarks supporting the restoration of funding to Transportation Enhancements in 2003, Congressman LaHood spoke about the importance of trails and facilities that encourage Americans to exercise and get healthy. We look forward to translating his support for trails into support for the Safe Routes to School program.
6. New CDC Report Shows Prevalence of Childhood Bike/Ped Injuries
To access the report, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/images/CDC-ChildhoodInjury.pdf
In December 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on childhood injuries in the United States. The report, titled CDC Childhood Injury Report: Patterns of Unintentional Injuries among 0-19 Year Olds in the United States, 2000-2006, documents current trends and data for a range of types of unintentional injuries and deaths.
While the statistics represent a real problem, the data provided by the report—including a state-by-state breakout of child pedestrian death rates—may prove useful to Safe Routes to School supporters looking for data to support grant applications for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. To access the report, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/images/CDC-ChildhoodInjury.pdf
Among the leading causes of deaths by “unintentional injury,” child pedestrian deaths rank third for children ages 5 to 14—higher than deaths from fires, drowning, falls, poisoning, and suffocation. Only deaths related to being a passenger in a motor vehicle or unspecified motor vehicle-related injuries ranked higher than child pedestrian deaths. Across children ages 0 to 19, child pedestrian and bicycle deaths represent 10% of all child deaths from unintentional injuries—a total of 1.4 deaths per 100,000 children. For injuries that do not result in death, child pedestrian and bicycle injuries represent 5% of overall unintentional injuries, and account for a rate of 456 injuries per 100,000 children.
7. Safe Routes to School State Network Project Update
Lessons learned in 2008 and looking forward to 2009
The ten SRTS State Networks have accomplished many goals since their inception in 2007; the Networks have also met challenges, and have refined their practices and increased their influence. Some lessons learned include:
Recruitment must be ongoing - By involving a wide variety of statewide partners and local communities on the Safe Routes to School State Networks, there are more ways and resources to accomplish mutual policy objectives.
Have patience; don’t give up – Accomplishing goals may involve changing complex, institutionalized policies or procedures that will require a cultural shift away from ’business as usual’ for agencies, schools, or communities. Stick with it!
Utilizing the media can be an effective tool - General media interest in SRTS activities has been very strong; SRTS funding announcements, Walk and Bike to School Day, and state conferences and program announcements can result in positive news coverage ranging from local television and radio stations to local newspapers.
Make sure the State Network is run efficiently - Clear and consistent communication of intentions, goals, and successes is critical. Collaboration builds buy-in and prevents burnout among leaders.
Don’t reinvent the wheel; learn from others - State efforts can be enriched by learning from other states and by finding others who have been working on similar efforts within the state.
In 2009, the State Networks will be focusing on ensuing that the federal SRTS funds are spent and on good projects; building new partnerships, and creating new policy approaches for issues such as climate change, school bus cuts due to economic constraints, and state implementation of the upcoming federal Stimulus/Recovery bill.
8. Colorado SRTS Receives Thirty-Nine Applications in 4th Application Cycle
63 programs and projects currently approved for SRTS, including 199 schools
Colorado closed its fourth application cycle on December 12, 2008, and received 39 qualified applications, requesting over $5.6 million. Twelve of the applications are for non-infrastructure projects and the remaining requested funds for infrastructure. These projects will be scored by the nine-member appointed COSRTS Advisory Committee, including representatives from bicyclists, educators, law enforcement, parents, pedestrians, and four transportation representatives. The recommended projects will be presented to the Colorado Transportation Commission in March for approval. This round of applications could possibly add up to 20 new programs and projects to the current list of funded participants.
As of September 30, 2008, out of the 63 programs, 37 are underway, and eight have not yet started. Several projects have reported positive results in their final accomplishment reports.
Over the last year, COSRTS created marketing materials and a statewide Walk to School poster, placed SRTS ads in local papers, and promoted COSRTS at the Colorado Association for School Nurses and the Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance conferences. Special emphasis was cast on the effective education strategies listed in the National Center for Safe Routes to School’s online guide. Since funding is competitive, no- and low-cost resources are frequently updated on the web. On August 17, 2008, Michael Cynecki (City of Phoenix) and Wendi Kallins (Marin County Safe Routes to School Program)presented the Safe Routes to School National Course in Thornton, Colorado to 68 school, health, and transportation professionals.
The COSRTS will offer statewide trainings during 2009. The Colorado Crossing Guard Train the Trainer courses, offered both on the Western Slope and the Front Range, will focus on the trainer’s role in creating a crossing guard training program. Plus, a Bicycle Rodeo Train the Trainer will be provided. Furthermore, course registration is contingent upon students agreeing to provide at least two trainings.
For more COSRTS information, go to www.dot.state.co.us or email SRTS Coordinator, Lenore Bates at srts@dot.state.co.us.
9. Maine’s SRTS Program Expanding
Voters recently passed a $200,000 bond for SRTS projects
Maine was one of the first states in the nation to implement a Safe Routes to School Program. Maine voters in 2003 supported a $500,000 bond that funded 13 Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects throughout the State, and Maine voters recently passed another $200,000 bond for Maine Safe Routes to School projects.
The Maine Safe Routes to School Program is working with 22 different communities statewide on Safe Route to School projects that include sidewalks, crossing improvements, and off-road connections. These projects are significantly improving conditions for walking and bicycling in communities throughout the state. Maine is currently reviewing another round of Safe Routes to School project applications, and will be announcing awards in early spring.
Maine’s education and outreach program differs from most other states’ programs in that MaineDOT, through the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, has contracted part-time education and outreach coordinators to work with schools in order to develop school travel plans and to provide support and assistance for walk and bike to school events. The Maine SRTS program provides staff support, bike and pedestrian safety training in schools, as well as program posters, stickers, and other support for schools. Currently, more than 100 schools across the state participate in walk and bike to school events. The MaineDOT Office of Communications also partners in the program by creating colorful posters and creating monthly newsletters that are distributed via email each month. If you have any questions about the Maine program, or want to see the posters, please email Dan Stewart, Maine SRTS Coordinator at dan.stewart@maine.gov or visit the Maine SRTS website.
10. Safe Routes to School News throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links
Safe Routes to School news around the country keeps growing! Updated regularly, see our new Safe Routes to School in the News media center for the latest in local, state, and national SRTS news.
Help Grow the National Partnership!
Joining the National Partnership is free. Please encourage other organizations, schools, businesses, and government agencies to join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a network of more than 500 organizations and agencies.
Funding for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has been generously provided by the Bikes Belong Coalition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SRAM Cycling Fund, individuals and partner affiliates.
For more information, contact:
Brooke Driesse, Communications Manager
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
brooke@saferoutespartnership.org
www.saferoutespartnership.org