August 2017

Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #138: August 2017

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes Partnership. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Join us!

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  1. Invest Your SNAP Ed Funding in Safe Routes to School
  2. Take Our 2017 Partner Survey
  3. Congressional Confusion: Tax Cuts or Infrastructure Up Next?
  4. Vision Zero Advancing in the Mid-Atlantic Region
  5. National Walking Summit Coming to St. Paul, MN in September
  6. Nevada and Michigan: Get Ready to Fire Up Your Feet
  7. Are You On the Safe Routes to School Google Group?
  8. Pedal with a Pal on August 13
  9. Featured Partner: Skillastics
  10. News and Events

1. Invest Your SNAP Ed Funding in Safe Routes to School

Are you looking to spend your SNAP Ed or other federal funding on efforts with expeditious and long lasting benefits to students, schools, and communities? Consider investing in Safe Routes to School, one of the HI-5 interventions identified by the CDC. We can help! Visit our website to learn more about how we can help elevate walking and biking to school in your community.

2. Take Our 2017 Partner Survey

As a partner, you and your organization play a critical role in advancing policy change for active transportation and healthy communities, implementing and strengthening Safe Routes to School programs, and spreading the word about issues, new research, and best practices. We value your input and want to hear from you about our approach to strategic collaboration and equity.

Please take 10-15 minutes to complete this partner survey by August 9. We greatly appreciate your feedback.

3. Congressional Confusion: Tax Cuts or Infrastructure Up Next?

With the health care repeal bill down for the count, will Congress move on to tax reform or infrastructure next? And, will they complete the annual appropriations process to fund the government, while pushing back on the Trump administration’s proposed cuts? Read our federal policy blog for more information. And, learn about how your state is affected by the $60 million in Transportation Alternatives Program funding being clawed back by USDOT.  

4. Vision Zero Advancing in the Mid-Atlantic Region

The Mid-Atlantic Safe Routes to School Regional Network works in the greater DC and Baltimore areas on a wide range of Safe Routes to School, active transportation, and healthy communities issues.  Vision Zero has really been taking off in the region, with movement in several area communities.

  • The city of Alexandria, VA passed its Vision Zero policy in January, and has been holding community meetings this spring and summer to get input into their Vision Zero action plan.  The draft action plan will be ready for discussion this fall. 
  • In the District of Columbia, which was an early adopter of Vision Zero, we recently supported the city’s proposed rulemaking that would reduce speeds to 15mph between 7am and 11pm every day around schools, parks, playgrounds, and other facilities serving youth. DC also proposed raising fines for speeding, and we suggested they consider fine mitigation options so as not to disproportionately affect low-income residents.  DC also currently has open a grant competition for DC partners interested in helping advance Vision Zero.

5. National Walking Summit Coming to St. Paul, MN in September

The 2017 National Walking Summit is coming to St. Paul, MN this September! This is the first Summit to be held outside of Washington, DC, and an opportunity to experience first-hand a city that is undergoing a transformation into one of America's most walkable communities. See St. Paul by foot with one of the locally designed Learning-from Place workshops and learn how you can take lessons from St. Paul home to your community with breakout sessions including partnering with business districts and Stop for Me campaigns.Click here to register.

6. Nevada and Michigan: Get Ready for Fire Up Your Feet This Fall

Since 2013, the Fire Up Your Feet program has been a tremendous success in the regions of California, Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, Metro Atlanta, Colorado, and Hawaii. Together with you as a partner we have nationally reached 6,212 schools on this journey and awarded nearly $675,000 directly to schools to support healthy change at the school level. In addition, we made connections to increase demand for biking and walking to school successfully elevating new events and supporting the traditional Bike to School Day and Walk to School Day with greater enthusiasm and easy to use resources. To all our partners and participants: Thank you!
 
Please note: The program will remain active in Nevada and Michigan this fall! Visit nevada.fireupyourfeet.org or mi.fireupyourfeet.org to learn more about awards and sign up today.

7. Are You a Member of the Safe Routes to School Google Group?

Are you a member of the SafeRoutes to School Google Groupemail discussion list? Join a vibrant online community space to discuss and exchange information with other Safe Routes to School, walking, biking, and equity advocates. Click here to sign up or email margaux@saferoutespartnership.org to request to be added.

8. Pedal with a Pal on August 13

Celebrate Bike Days of Summer with PeopleForBikes by sharing what you love about bike riding with a friend. Reconnect with an old buddy or start a tradition with a new one. However you celebrate, make sure to snap a photo and share it on social media with #bikedaysofsummer. Learn more here.

9. Featured Partner: Skillastics

Skillastics® is the affordable solution that enhances the physical activity experience for all ages and abilities. Skillastics® is a series of evidence-based, oversize board games that combine active, academic, social, emotional, and cooperative learning with the development of fitness and or sport skill development. Skillastics engages up to 100 children at one time, creating a perfect balance of learning in an atmosphere of fun!
 
Enjoy this special offer from Skillastics plus benefit the Safe Routes Partnership at the same time: $10-$15 discount for you plus a 5% proceed back to the Safe Routes Partnership.  Use code: SRTS16. Details here.

10. News and Events