Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Increasing Active Transportation

among Elementary Schoolchildren

Plaistow, NH

Student, Plaistow, NH

The need for Safe Routes to School

1969: 42% walked

2001: 16% walked

(CDC, 2005)

One unintended result of children’s reduced, daily walking & biking.

BMI Indicator

Indicator AFHYTarget

KSD2008-2009

KSD 2011-2012

CheshireCounty

2008-2009

N.H.2008-2009

U.S.

% of 3rd grade children overweight and obese

20% 43% 39% 32% 33% n/d

Other unintended consequences of Less Biking & Walking

More drop-off autos idling = Impaired Schoolyard Air Quality

More schoolyard autos/buses = More Accidents Involving Children

Good News! Safe Routes to School Programs are increasing walking & biking.

> Walking & bicycling conditions

> Children’s physical activity

< Schoolyard air pollution

Dallas, TXNew Hampshire's First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch leads

Kimball School Students from Concord SRTS

Additional Benefits of SRTS Programs

Less auto congestion around schools,

Greater student “readiness to learn”,

Greater child’s sense of freedom,

Established lifetime exercise habits,

Pedestrian & bicycling safety skills for life.

SRTS Basis – the 5 E’s

Engineering

Education

Enforcement

Encouragement

Evaluation

Keene’s SRTS InvolvementSTART-UP GRANT = Data & 5 E’s

2007 Jonathan Daniels - $ 4,940 2010/2012 Symonds - $ 3,3002012 Franklin & Waldorf - $4,800 ‘ish award

TRAVEL PLAN GRANT = Recommendations for Built-Environment Improvements

2009 Jonathan Daniels Elementary Travel Plan - $ 14,1002012 MOA between City Council & School Board

INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT = Built items, e.g. “Road Diet”, “Open Street” event, crosswalks, etc.

2010 Jonathan Daniels – $ 149,000 unsuccessful.2012 Jonathan Daniels Infrastructure Grant –

$ 130,000 award last week.

Keene’s First Data

62 % students live < 1/4 mile from JD

20% morning traffic is generated by cars <5 min. from school.

(Keene, 2008; SRTS-JD Data)

Jonathan Daniels Elementary School Traffic-Keene, NH

But improved #s are coming in!

Phoenix, AZWinston-Salem, NC Alhambra, CA

SRTS Averaged, Morning, Fall Data of Walking/Biking verses Motorized Modes

Keene School Year Data Periods  2009 2010 2011 2012 2013  

Jonathan Daniels14.60% X 12% 24% 31%

S-2009, S-2011, S-2012, F-2012, F-2013

SymondsX X 13% 15% 18%

W-2011, S-2011, F-2012, F-2013  

Waldorf X X 17% 17% 20% S-2011, F-2012, F-2013  Franklin X X X 27% 35% F-2012, F-2013    

Franklin’s Walk & Roll Wednesdays 2013

Keene’s SRTS TeamSRTS programs are built through collaborative community

partnerships

Healthy Monadnock2020 Champions

Keene State

CollegeInterns,

Volunteers, Professors

SchoolsPTA, Teachers, Principals Parents, Staff, Volunteers

City of Keene City

Council, SRTS

Committee Planning Dep’t, Police Dep’t Public Works Dep’t

NH’s Current SRTS Funding Status

$2,770,000 yet to be announced and $5,371,177 overall to actually be spent by awarded communities

What Can Schools do to Increase Walking?

a) Amend School Wellness Policies to support walking and biking to school.

b) Create dual, year-round, remote drop-off locations for parents who must deliver

children to school in personal vehicles.

c) Prioritize convenient bike parking at school.

d) Require bicycle and pedestrian safety as part of school curricula.

e) Work with parents and PTAs to host regular walk and bike to school events.

f) Support policies at the City level that make walking and biking safer (i.e. – “Complete

Streets”).

g) Offer professional development training for teachers on SRTS.

h) Create and fund a position for a Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator at the district level.

A Symonds School Journey

Symonds School Keene, NH November 2013

5210 Spirit Week

A week in May spotlighting wellness at school and home

Single day walk/bike to school• Parental permission

Community Partners- Yankee Lanes, Staff and Parent Volunteers

$0

2010-2011

5210 Spirit Week Single day walk/bike to school, Yankee Lanes remote bus

drop-off

Classroom pedestrian safety lessons, Keene State Interns

Mark Fenton, visits Keene • Video encouraging students to walk• All school assembly with race walking instruction • Project A.C.E.S. (All Students Exercise Simultaneously)

• Financial and Logistical Support- Vision 2020

Community Partners- Staff and Parent Volunteers, Yankee Lanes, Vision 2020, Keene State College, Keene High School Video Production Program, Bus Company

2011-2012

Symonds School Active Commuting Program Grows!

Friday Walk & Roll to School 7 Weeks in Fall and 8 weeks in Spring

SRTS Funding for Fall• Keene Planning Department support• Paid Walk & Roll coordinator• Volunteer Safety Vests, Walk & Roll T-shirts, Student Incentives

Keene Police pedestrian safety presentations

No SRTS Funding for Spring

2012-2013

2012-2013

Friday Walk and Roll to School Incentives/Motivation- Walk and Roll Tickets

• 100% participation- Walk & Roll points earned for safety patrols, single ingredient snacks & Zero sugar added drinks, family physical activity

• Fall- Businesses donated passes to local ‘active’ venues, apples and water for the walkers and bikers each Friday

• Spring- C&S grant funded Class Swim Party at Wheelock Pool & Healthy Popsicles for all

Community Partners- Staff and Parent Volunteers, City of Keene, Yankee Lanes, Vision 2020, C & S Wholesalers, Keene Parks and Recreation, Cheshire Ice Arena, Bretwood Golf, Keene YMCA, Ted’s Shoe and Sport, Granite Gorge Ski Area, Hannafords, Shaws, Walmart

2012-2013

2012-2013 Continued

Yankee Lanes parking lot 7:45-8am PARENT DROP OFF NO LATER THAN 8am If you arrive at Yankee after 8am, please drop your student off at Symonds. Russell and Wheelock Streets Intersection Bus Remote drop off Students with signed Walk and Roll tickets will exit the bus for a healthy, fun, social walk to school. Kids from neighborhoods in the area can join the walk too! Reminders: 1. On the ticket below, check off each point earned this week.2. Kids who walk or bike to school from home should turn in their Walk and Roll ticket to their classroom teacher on Friday.

Students MUST bring this signed ticket to participate in Walk and Roll FridayParent drop off and walkers must arrive at Yankee Lanes between 7:45am and 8:00am.

I give my permission for my child, ____________ ______________ to participate in Walk and Roll Friday. First Name Last Name

Classroom Teacher and Grade, _______ ____________________

Grade Teacher

Check off Walk and Roll Points earned this previous week:

____Today’s Walk and Roll Friday participant (2 pts)____ 5th Grade Safety Patrol (2 pts)____Other Family physical activity deemed appropriate by parent(1 pts)***If your child brings a morning snack or drinks, s/he will tally a Walk and Roll a W&R point for bringing a single ingredient snack and/or a ZERO sugar added beverage at snack time. Teachers will tally these points at school.

Parent/Guardian SIGNATURE ________________________date______________

http://tinyurl.com/walknrollfriday

MAY 24

Walk and Roll TICKET4 ways to get a new ticket for each week: 1. copy the ticket below, 2. Use the W&R reminder ticket sent home on

Thursdays or 3. Click and print the PTA email reminder sent each week or NEW: click and print ticket at:

SPRING Walk and Roll Friday, May 24

Current School Year Walk and Roll Goals Create a sustainable program

Evolve from a school program to a neighborhood and parent effort, with school support

Make active commuting a daily habit vs. an event

Possibly add more days per week in springtime

Have more students arrive READY TO LEARN

2013-2014

Logistics and Program Features Neighborhood Captains and Parent Volunteers

• Fingerprinting in compliance with Keene School District volunteer requirements and covering the cost

• Commitment every Tuesday and Thursday

3 Neighborhood Meeting Points142 students 28 Parent Volunteers 3 Staff Members

Remote Bus Drop Off Eliminated• Developing alternatives to create opportunities for participation

Communication Systems• MailChimp, Email, text, Facebook, Assemblies, backpack notices,

School Assemblies, etc.

2013-2014

Friday Walk and Roll Incentives/Motivation-Walker/Biker Punchcards

• ‘Toe Tokens’ acknowledge each Walk and Roll level attainedo De-emphasize extrinsic prizes

• Participation so far- GREEN Level-184, Yellow Level-90

• Mali Shields, Symonds Staff member handling data base and punchcard system logistics for 357 students

• Teachers willing to punch Walk and Roll punchcards every Tuesday and Thursday

• WALK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME- 50+ in the school year Funding- Community Partner, Vital Essence Wellness Center donated the funds

for the punchcards

2013-2014

2013-2014

2013-2014

SRTS Data Slide HERE

SRTS Averaged, Morning, Fall Data of Walking/Biking verses Motorized Modes

Keene School Year Data Periods  2009 2010 2011 2012 2013  

Jonathan Daniels14.60% X 12% 24% 31%

S-2009, S-2011, S-2012, F-2012, F-2013

SymondsX X 13% 15% 18%

W-2011, S-2011, F-2012, F-2013  

Waldorf X X 17% 17% 20% S-2011, F-2012, F-2013  Franklin X X X 27% 35% F-2012, F-2013    

A School Wellness Culture

Home-School Connection

Community Partners

School Based Point Person

Teaching NH kids how to be outside

Fun!

What We Know 4 Years Later

2 More Important Community Partners

2013-2014