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Kids on the Move-- G Ross Elementary School (Lancaster, PA) 5th Graders worked on 'Creating Bike Paths' to address Childhood obesity problem
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Creating Bike Paths in Lancaster, PA
Design for Change
Kids on the Move
G Ross Elementary School
November, 2010
“One act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world.”
- Ann Radcliffe
Design For Change Contest USA
Simple Step Process
4
The Challenge
Challenge Accepted!
Fifth Graders at G Ross Elementary School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Why Bike Paths?
• Childhood obesity is a problem.– Fifth graders felt Michelle Obama’s initiative
needed support.– Students agreed kids need more exercise.
Step 1: Feel
Why Bike Paths?• While activity can take many forms, most city
kids love to bike ride – a great way to exercise!– The problem: No safe place to ride.
Step 1: Feel
Problem: • Busy streets allow no
room for kids to negotiate riding safely.
• Most kids ride in alleys and sidewalks.
Step 1: Feel
Why Bike Paths?• We feel there are not
enough places for kids to ride their bikes safely in Lancaster City.
Step 1: Feel
Step 2: Imagine
Question:
What would it be like for kids to be able to
ride their bicycles safely in the city of
Lancaster? Brainstorming our project ideas
Step 2: Imagine
Putting our ideas together was a lot of fun!!
Step 2: Imagine
• We met with city officials and leaders!
Step 2: Imagine
Students with Rick Gray,
Lancaster City Mayor
Students with James Street Improvement District
Program Director Ms. Nauman
We talked with Mayor Gray about:
• green space;• designating streets for bike
riding.
And, we suggested a schedule for bikes just like there is for street cleaning.
Step 2: Imagine
• Ms. Nauman showed us plans for an urban parkway that nearby Franklin and Marshall College is creating in our neighborhood.
• They hope to connect the existing three-mile-long Farmingdale Trail with the new Brickyard site to create a labyrinth of trails for hiking and biking.
Step 2: Imagine
• We discussed our goals:– To promote bike safety in our community.
– To support – and encourage others to support – creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
– To show kids where they can ride for fun.
– To share with parents how important exercise is for kids and how much fun we have riding our bikes in the city.
Step 2: Imagine
We had ideas…
Step 2: Imagine
…and more ideas! (We had a lot of ideas!)…
Step 2: Imagine
…but what could we DO?• We decided:
• To write a letter and to start a petition to support creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
• To sponsor a community event at our school to raise awareness of our cause, with help from the:
• Local police department• James Street Improvement District (JSID) bike patrol• Cycle Smart Kid’s Program• Gretna Bike Shop
Step 3: Do
• We wrote a letter to
Mr. Keith Orris, vice president at F&M, to show our support.
Step 3: Do
• We created a petition for Ross students to sign.
Step 3: Do
• We met with Mike, manager of the Gretna bike shop – one block from our school…
Step 3: Do
…he was excited to help us out!
Step 3: Do
• But, we needed to reach more people…
Step 3: Do
• Our principal, Mrs. Hopkins, agreed.
• So, we worked with the local Department of Transportation to plan an event...
Step 3: Do
…A Bike Rodeo!
• Who: Lancaster City Community
• What: A Bike Rodeo and Safety Program
• When: May 2011
• Where: G Ross Elementary School
Playground and Parking Lot
Step 3: Do
Step 4: Share
There’s no stopping us now!
Our plan is in place! We did it!
“What a cool idea!” – Officer Ted Makauskas
“We will be there to share Bike Safety.”
–Trooper Thomas, Our State Police Community Rep.
Step 4: Share
…And, we aren’t finished yet!
• By the time our event takes place we will have touched our community of:
55,129 people!
Challenge Conquered!
We really can change our world!
Thank you for the opportunity to share our story!