Safe Routes to School E-News February 2011
In this monthly e-news update, we will keep you informed about resources and support available through the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School program, inform you about logistics regarding upcoming or prior events and share any other ideas and inspiration for keeping children motivated to walk and bicycle to school safely year round.
2. SPRING WALK AND ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY EVENTS!
3. BOOK A BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ASSEMBLY WITH THE IMAGINISTS
4. STREET SKILLS FOR CYCLIST CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND TEENS
5. JOIN SEBASTOPOL USD FAMILIES ON A BIKE RIDE FROM SEBASTOPOL TO SANTA ROSA!
6. MARCH SRTS NEWSLETTER BLURB AND ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR ONGOING WALK/ROLL ENCOURAGEMENT
7. BECOME OUR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FACEBOOK FRIEND!
8. CHECK OUT THE SONOMA COUNTY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WEBSITE
9. CONTACT US TO ARRANGE FOR SRTS CONSULTING FOR YOUR SITE/DISTRICT
1. SIGN UP FOR OUR SPRING FREQUENT WALK/ROLL PROGRAM AND APPLY FOR A FREQUENT WALK/ROLL PROGRAM GRANT TO RECEIVE FREE MATERIALS!
Last October, 75 schools and over 10,000 children throughout Sonoma County participated in International Walk and Roll to School Day. In our continuing effort to promote healthier lifestyles for children and community members, the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program invites you to register to participate in our Frequent Walk/Roll (FWR) program this Spring. The FWR program runs for 4-6 weeks. Specific dates may be determined by individual schools as long as your program is concluded by May 16, 2011.
HOW DOES THE FREQUENT WALK/ROLL PROGRAM WORK?
The FWR program is simple. Safe Routes to School provides participating school team leaders with an electronic program guidebook, a modifiable Frequent Walk/Roll card template, parent letter template, poster template, and donation letter template. Cards and parent letters are given to children on the first day of the program, and students are responsible for having their cards initialed by a parent each day they walk or bicycle to OR from school. Each time they complete a card, they turn it into their teacher and receive a new card (this keeps children honest). A student who walks or bikes every day will complete approximately two cards per month. However, even students who walk or bike to school on a less frequent basis may participate, as long as they walk or bike on a minimum of 10 occasions during the course of the program. Completed cards are tickets for an end-of-year raffle, or your program may be modified to offer a different incentive for students to turn in their cards Your program may also be modified to accommodate students who carpool or ride a bus to school.
Printing of cards,parent letters, and end of year raffle prizes are the responsibility of participating schools, Cards are 4 to-a-page and can be printed on heavyweight, brightly colored paper. All materials are downloadable for free on the www.sonomasaferoutes.org website. Click on the “Five E’s” tab, go to the Encouragement page, and scroll down to Frequent Walk/Roll Program
You may also receive technical support and/or request that materials be emailed directly to you by emailing saferoutes@bikesonoma.org.
CAN I GET A FREE SUPPLY OF CARDS, POSTERS AND/OR RAFFLE PRIZES FROM THE SRTS PROGRAM?
Any Sonoma County School that participated in the Fall 2010 International Walk and Roll to School Day may apply for a Spring 2011 Frequent Walk/Roll Program Grant. Three eligible schools will be awarded a grant this year. Grant recipients receive a supply of Frequent Walk/Roll Cards, a supply of posters to hang around the school, and a free bicycle gift certificate to utilize as a raffle prize for your Spring 2011 program.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A SPRING 2011 FREQUENT WALK/ROLL PROGRAM GRANT?
To apply for the Frequent Walk/Roll program grant, please send an email to saferoutes@bikesonoma.org, by Friday, February 11th with a request to receive a grant application. An application will be sent to you within one business day of your request.*
Grant Deadlines:
Grant Application Request email: no later than Friday, February 11th
Grant Application Deadline: no later than Monday, February 21st
Award Announcement: no later than Friday, March 4th
*schools in the Sebastopol, Roseland, Bellevue, and Cotati-Rohnert Park School Districts need not apply.
WHY SHOULD I REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM IF I AM NOT RECEIVING FREE MATERIALS FROM SRTS?
The County Safe Routes to School program is interested in tracking the Walk & Roll to School encouragement efforts that Sonoma County Schools are implementing, learning about your experiences, and hearing about your program’s impact. If you have chosen to implement Frequent Walk Roll and are utilizing our downloadable resources to do so, OR if you have implemented another Walk/Roll encouragement program of your own invention, please register by emailing saferoutes@bikesonoma.org so we are aware of your efforts! In your email, please include the following information:
School Name:
School Location:
Team Leader Name:
Team Leader Contact Information:
Encouragement Program you are implementing:
Program Duration/dates:
Number of Students enrolled at School:
Did you participate in International Walk & Roll to School Day in Fall 2010? (yes/no)
Any additional information about your experience, feedback, etc:
2. SPRING WALK AND ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY
We have had recent inquiries from schools asking whether the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School Program is coordinating a countywide Walk & Roll to School Day this Spring.
Unfortunately, at this time, the County SRTS program is only able to support one countywide Walk & Roll to School program per year, International Walk and Roll to School Day, which takes place on the first Wednesday in October. Registration for the October Walk and Roll to School Day will be announced in the SRTS E-News, so please keep your eyes open for that!
Although the County SRTS Program is not able to support a Spring Walk and Roll to School Day on a countywide level, we can provide technical support to schools who are interested in holding their own Walk and Roll to School Day events, and we may be able to provide a limited number of small incentive prizes for your event (pencils & stickers) on a first come, first serve basis.
If you are planning to hold your own Walk and Roll to School Day event this Spring, please email saferoutes@bikesonoma.org.
Requests for Spring 2011 Walk & Roll to School Day support must be received no later than Friday, February 25th, 2011.
Request emails must include the following information:
School Name
School Location
Team Leader Name:
Team Leader Contact information:
Number of students enrolled at school:
Number of students who participated in Fall 2010 International Walk and Roll to School Day:
Your Planned Walk/Roll to School Day date:
3. BOOK A BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ASSEMBLY WITH THE IMAGINISTS!
Please read the recent Press Democrat article about our fabulous, Safe Routes to School Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Assembly, performed by the Imaginist’s Theater Collective and entitled “Captain Bicycle Shorts or How I Became a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Superhero:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100929/ARTICLES/100929388/1350?p=1&tc=pg
INTERESTED IN HAVING THE IMAGINISTS TO PERFORM AT YOUR SITE? The Imaginists are available to perform at local schools and events, Performances can be requested by emailing Tina Panza at tinap@bikesonoma.org. The fee for the performance is $350 for one performance, $500.00 for two back-to-back performances at a site, and $600.00 for three back-to-back performances at a site. Additional travel fees may apply in certain locations.
4. STREET SKILLS FOR CYCLIST CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND TEENS
Do you know parents who would love to ride their bikes with their children, but don’t feel comfortable doing so because they fear riding in traffic? Do you observe parents and/or teens who do ride, but who are not observing the rules of the road?
Please inform your school community that the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition offers low-cost Street Skills for Cyclist classes for both adults and teens. Classes take place at a central location in Santa Rosa. Arrangements can also be made to offer a class at your school or district, as funding and availability permits.
Street Skills for Cyclists classes are for ALL levels, whether you have been commuting by bike for years, or are rolling your bike out of the garage for the first time since turning 16. Participants who take the class learn about rules of the road, as well as the tricks and methods of effectively and safely dealing with traffic and other road users. The seminar is taught by Martin Clinton, League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, utilizing proven slide illustrations,diagrams, video clips, and more. A bicycle is not required for the lecture but participants are welcome to ride to the seminar.
Santa Rosa classes are held once a month, on the first Saturday or Sunday.
Spring 2011 dates:
Sunday, March 6th
Saturday, April 2nd
Sunday, May 1st
Saturday, June 4th
Times:
Adult
class
8:45 AM to 12:45 PM
Youth
class:
1:45 PM to 3:45 PM
How to sign up:
Parents may sign up for the class by emailing christie@bikesonoma.org or calling the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition at 707-545-0152.
Seminar Fee*:
General Public: $20.00
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition members: $10.00
Special class and membership deal: join SCBC at the class and the class cost is only $
*contact saferoutes@bikesonoma.org to inquire about availability and fees for school or district on-site classes
Satisfaction Guarantee:
If participants are not 100% satisfied, SCBC will refund your class fee! Participants may retake the class at any time at no additional cost.
5. JOIN SEBASTOPOL USD SRTS FAMILIES ON A BIKE RIDE FROM SEBASTOPOL TO SANTA ROSA – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19th!
A group of parents involved with the Sebastopol Unified School District Safe Routes to School Program have organized a family bike ride to take place on Saturday, February 19th. They welcome parents (and children) involved with SRTS programs in other areas to join them. Read on for a note from the Sebastopol USD SRTS team:
Join us for a Family Bike Ride from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa
We will meet at the West County Revolution Bike Shop (6731 Sebastopol Ave.) at 10:00am. We will have a bicycle safety and bike path etiquette talk and then ride out to Santa Rosa via the Joe Rodota Bike Trail and Santa Rosa Creek Path. We will have a picnic lunch at Juilliard Park and then ride back to the West County Revolution Bike Shop, returning between 1 and 1:30pm. The ride is 7.3 miles one way (14.6 miles roundtrip) and fairly flat the whole way. No one will be left behind! Children under 11 should be accompanied by a parent and everyone under 18 years of age must wear a helmet. Please bring a picnic lunch for yourself and your child(ren), and plenty of water. Sarah Hadler, SRTS Program Manager for the Sebastopol Unified School District, will have a trailer/panniers to help carry lunches and the necessities to change flats and make small repairs. Everyone must fill out a waiver form (available the morning of the ride). Rain cancels the ride, but don’t worry, we are planning on another family ride in March! It would be helpful to know how many people are planning on coming on the ride, so please contact Sarah Hadler at 527-5285 or sarah@bikesonoma.org, Laura Davison at 872-5105 or lauraredwoods@gmail.com or Tasha Krongard at 829-8479 or tashalk@yahoo.com to let us know if you will be coming and if you have any questions/concerns. Hope to see you there!
6. MARCH SRTS NEWSLETTER BLURB AND ACTIVITIES IDEAS FOR ONGOING WALK/ROLL ENCOURAGEMENT/EDUCATION
March Newsletter Blurb: Be Safe When Driving, Walking or Biking
Safety Starts with You
Are you concerned for your child’s safety? The first step to creating a safe community can start with you. Do you follow the rules of the road and drive slowly and with awareness? Did you know that 40% of all child pedestrian accidents are from darting out into the street? You never know when a child will appear in front of you, so it’s best to slow down and pay attention. Turn off your cell phone and watch the road. Make sure that your child also knows the rules of the road. When walking, make sure they stop at every edge, whether it’s the curb, a driveway or a parked car. Cross at marked crosswalks or corners. And when biking, make sure they bike the same direction as traffic and always wear a helmet. Here are a few tips to follow:
When Driving:
· Expect the unexpected and be prepared to stop suddenly when children are present.
· Look for pedestrians when pulling out of driveways and when driving near vending trucks, buses, parks and schools.
· Stop and look for pedestrians crossing when making a right hand turn on a red light.
· Residential streets are designed for local use. Use major streets as much as possible.
· Your vehicle is a deadly weapon against a human body. Drive alert and watch out.
When Walking or Biking:
· Children learn from watching what adults do.
· Walk with your child and explain traffic safety rules.
· Do not cross mid-block or between parked cars.
· Use signals correctly and walk only on the green “walk” signal.
· Walk alert. See and be seen.
Activities:
· Highlight safety this month – send a message to parents about driver safety and send a message to the kids about bicycle and pedestrian safety
· March to the Beat of Your Own Drum: Hold a Walk and Roll day with drums and other rhythm instruments. Recruit a local marching band to participate.
· March Like a Penguin: Hold a Walk and Roll day with a penguin theme, give away penguin tokens from www.fitnessfinders.com to participating children.
· Hold a St. Patrick’s Walk and Roll Day – encourage everyone to wear green. Give away green “lucky” stars.
· Start a weekly or monthly “Golden Sneaker Award.” To request a Golden Sneaker Award Guidebook, email saferoutes@bikesonoma.org or download at
7. BECOME OUR FACEBOOK FRIEND
Did you know that the Sonoma County Safe Routes to School Program has a Facebook page?
If you are a “facebooking person” please consider “liking” us to receive updates on SRTS related happenings in Sonoma County and beyond.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Sonoma-County-Safe-Routes-to-School/288911572777
8. CHECK OUT THE SONOMA COUNTY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WEBSITE!
The Sonoma County Safe Routes to School Program also has a website where you can learn more about the five E’s of a comprehensive Safe Routes to School Program – Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation. There are downloadable resources available for each of the E’s, including lesson plans from our CA standards based K-6 SRTS curriculum guide. You can also view E-News archives from previous months.
9. CONTACT US TO ARRANGE FOR SRTS CONSULTING FOR YOUR SITE/DISTRICT
Interested in starting a Safe Routes to School program at your school and/or district but not sure where to begin? Contact your SRTS area lead to receive more information and possibly book a consultation or presentation with one of our County Safe Routes to School Program Managers or your city lead. We can provide guidance about the resources currently available through the countywide program, and help you determine what would be most effective and feasible for your district or site, given your interests and resources.
Cities/Area Leads:
Cotati: Tina Panza - tinap@bikesonoma.org
Cloverdale: Tim Gonzalez - tiburcio@sonic.net
Healdsburg: Tim Gonzalez - tiburcio@sonic.net or Lissa Beard - lbeard@husd.com
Petaluma: Becky Schuerman-Choi - bschuerman@juno.com
Monte Rio/River: Tim Gonzalez - tiburcio@sonic.net
Rohnert Park: Amy Jolly - amybjolly@yahoo.com
Sebastopol/West County: Steven Schmitz – steven@sctransit.com
Sonoma: Carole Latorre – latorrec@aol.com
Santa Rosa: Tina Panza – tinap@bikesonoma.org
Windsor: Laurel Green – lgreen@wusd.org
School Districts with Federal SRTS Grants:
Bellevue School District/Santa Rosa: Lacinda Moore – laci@bikesonoma.org
Roseland School District/Santa Rosa: Lacinda Moore – laci@bikesonoma.org
Sebastopol Union School District School District: Sarah Hadler – sjhadler@aol.com
Cotati/Rohnert Park School District: Amy Jolly – ambjolly@yahoo.com
All the best,
The Sonoma County Safe Routes to School Team
Tina Panza
Director, Safe Routes to School
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
mobile: 707-799-3911
Office:
707.545.0153, fax: 707.573-0147
Mail: PO Box 3088, Santa Rosa, CA 95402-3088
Office: 750 Mendocino Ave. Suite 6, Santa Rosa CA
The Sonoma County Safe Routes to School program, funded in part by the Measure M transportation tax and in part by short-term federal grants to specific local jurisdictions, provides guidance and resources to schools interested in implementing at least one component of a Safe Routes to School program, as funding permits. The goal of Safe Routes to School programs is to encourage walking and bicycling where it is safe, and to make changes where it is not safe. SRTS programs do this through an integrated approach that includes five E's - encouragement, education, evaluation, engineering, and enforcement. However, a school can launch a SRTS program with just one component, and build from there. In doing so, SRTS programs address health and safety by reducing traffic congestion around schools, increasing physical activity, encouraging lifestyle changes for families, creating safer, calmer streets and neighborhoods, and improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is the lead implementation agency for the county SRTS program.
