Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Safe Routes to School
National Partnership
Matthew Colvin: Greater Washington, D.C. Regional Policy Manager
In 1969, nearly 50% of
all children walked or
bicycled to school.
Today, just 13% walk or
bicycle.
All kids and communities
deserve access to safe,
healthy streets and
opportunities for
physical activity.
About the National Partnership
We are a nonprofit organization that
improves the quality of life for kids and
communities by promoting active,
healthy lifestyles and safe
infrastructure that supports
bicycling and walking.
Regional Jurisdiction
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Regional Activities
Annual Regional Safe Routes to School
Regional Meeting with the Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments
Secured specific language for Safe Routes to
School in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for
the National Capital Region
Gathering new data: will soon release student
travel data from the regional household travel
survey
Coalition building: partnering with agencies,
advocates, government officials and schools
to ensure regional sustainability
Fire Up Your Feet
• 1600+ participating schools
and 60,000+ users
• Tens of millions of minutes of
physical activity
• 65% report increasing activity
Create demand
for walking,
bicycling and
physical activity
Engage parents
in creating
active schools
Mobilize
parents to build
healthier
communities
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Snapshot in 2009:
• 11th largest public school
system in the country.
• Received 0.15% of available
federal funding for Safe
Routes to School in Virginia.
Just $10,000 for noninfrastructure projects.
• School travel plans
submitted by two Fairfax
elementary schools.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Snapshot in 2009:
• Bike racks were empty,
missing, or in disrepair.
• No process for schools to
apply for federal Safe
Routes to School
infrastructure grants.
• A number of schools
banned students from
bicycling to school.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Creating Change in Fairfax County
• Wolfie’s Bike Train: Wolftrap, VA parent Jeff Anderson began a
monthly bike train in 2009. Kids would meet at his house for a
review of the safety rules and route and then ride to school.
Other students join along the route. What started with about 10
kids blossomed to 70-80 kids.
• Walking Wednesday: Three parents spend a few hours each week
sending home flyers in folders reminding students to walk or bike
on Wednesday. Then the janitor sets up a table for the parents on
Wednesday morning and parents pass out tokens for the students
key chains and reflectors on special occasions. Parents who walk
with students are rewarded with coffee from Café Amouri.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Creating Change in Fairfax County
• Bike/Walk Challenge: These two initiatives blossomed into a
Bike/Walk Challenge in Vienna, which soon grew across the entire
county.
• In 2014, nineteen schools participated and almost 5400 students
walked or bicycled to school over the week.
• At the end of the week, trophies are awarded for Rookie of the
Year, which is the school that did not participate in the previous
year but has a largest percentage of participants; the Bike Cup for
the highest percentage of bicyclists; and the Challenge Cup for the
biggest improvement from the previous year.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
• Growing the Movement
Mobilizing support for active
transportation and Safe Routes to
School in Fairfax County has led
to measurable change:
• Significant investments in
infrastructure and programming
• County language institutionalizing
Safe Routes to School
• Measurable increase in student
participation
• Full time Safe Routes Coordinator
Federal Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grants in
Fairfax County
Recipient
City of Falls Church
City
Falls Church
Year
2012
Award
$472,300
City of Vienna
Vienna
2012
$300,000
Fairfax County
Fairfax
2012
$150,000
Louise Archer Elementary
School PTA
Vienna
2007
$12,170
Fairfax Total:
$934,470
Fire Up Your Feet 2014 Awards
City
School Name
Amount
Reston
Armstrong Elementary
$700.00
Springfield
Crestwood Elementary
$600.00
Vienna
Cunningham Park Elementary
$1,200.00
Fairfax Station
Halley Elementary
$700.00
McLean
Kent Gardens Elementary
$800.00
Reston
Lake Anne Elementary
$200.00
Vienna
Wolftrap Elementary
$700.00
Fairfax Total:
$4,900.00
Institutionalizing Walking and Biking
School Board regulation 8610.8:
Recognizing the health benefits, FCPS encourages parents
to
consider having their children walk and/or ride a bicycle
to and from school using existing infrastructure. This parental
decision is not subject to review by the principal. Ultimately, parents have
the responsibility for selecting their children’s routes to and from bus stops,
schools, and home. Parents are also responsible for providing supervision
that is appropriate for the student’s age, maturity and conditions of the
chosen route.
Institutionalizing Walking and Biking
Institutionalizing Walking and Biking
2014 Fairfax County Transportation Bond Referendum
• $100 million transportation bond initiative approved by voters in 2014.
Funds from this referendum will enhance safety and complete missing
links that provide connectivity between neighborhoods, schools, activity
centers, parks and transit facilities, including:
• Almost $16 million for spot roadway improvements across the county.
• Over 60 pedestrian improvement projects across the county, totaling $78
million.
• 15 bicycle and trail improvement projects distributed throughout the
county, totaling $6 million.
Participation in Walk to School Day: 2009 and 2014
2009
Terra Centre Elementary School
Louise Archer Elementary School
Lynbrook Elementary School
Kent Gardens Elementary School
Wolftrap Elementary School
2014
Bush Hill Elementary School
Greenbriar West Elementary School
Buzz Aldrin Elementary School
Terra Centre Elementary School
Poplar Trees Elementary School
Lake Anne Elementary School
Union Mill Elementary School
Crestwood Elementary School
Vienna Elementary School
Oak View Elementary School
Springfield Estates Elementary School
Forest Edge Elementary School
Cub Run Elementary School
Chesterbrook Elementary School
(…40 more!)
Participation in Bike to School Day: 2009 and 2014
2009
Oak Hills Elementary School
Louise Archer Elementary school
Wolftrap Elementary School
Herndon Elementary School
Kilmer Middle School
Chesterbrook Elementary School
Marshall Road Elementary School
The Langley School
Olde Creek Elementary School
Flint Hill Elementary School
Oak View Elementary School
Herndon Middle School
Providence Elementary School
Freedom Hill Elementary School
Vienna Elementary School
2014
Walt Whitman Middle School
Springfield Estates Elementary School
Westbriar Elementary School
Hayfield Elementary School
Cunningham Park Elementary School
George Washington Middle School
Armstrong Elementary School
Flint Hill Elementary School
Dogwood Elementary School
Dranesville Elementary School
Spring Hill Elementary School
Pine Spring Elementary School
Louise Archer Elementary School
Hunters Woods Elementary School
(…25 more!)
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
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Safe Routes to School Coordinator:
Parents advocated for Fairfax County
Public Schools to apply for a part-time
Safe Routes to School Coordinator.
This position was filled by Sally
Smallwood, a retired educator.
Sally has been an institutionalizing force,
hosting bike rodeos; securing signs for
schools to encourage walking and
bicycling and discourage the use of kiss n’
rides; ensuring schools that want them
have bicycle racks; authoring a regular
newsletter; serving as a central contact
for the school, DOT, and law enforcement;
and supporting infrastructure grants.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Next Steps in Fairfax?
• Ensure sustainability of Safe Routes to School
Coordinator at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Currently awaiting award for second year of
funding, but future funding and federal funds
uncertain.
• Continue convening working group, made up of
various community members, including police,
Health Department, Department of Transportation,
Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and
parents.
• Continue to provide support and education
through meetings with PTAs, school board
members, and parents.
Regional Policy: Advancing
Safe Routes in Fairfax
County
Takeaway:
The movement I talked about
today in Fairfax started with the
passion of parents, teachers, and
advocates. They dedicate a few
hours a week to a vision. They
didn’t have a budget, but found
community partners to support
them. Through their efforts,
Fairfax County is now a national
example of how Safe Routes to
School policies can transform a
community.
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