Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #156: March 2019
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- Grassroots Community Residents Lead the Change for a Safer and Accessible Park
- Early Bird Registration Opens April 1 for the Safe Routes to School National Conference
- Congress Talks Climate and Transportation
- Free Webinar on Data Tools to Help Inform Active Transportation Decision-Making
- Now Accepting Applications for the Safe Routes to School Launch Program in California
- And the WABA Goes to…DC Community Engagement Manager Kori Johnson!
- New Fact Sheet: Safe Routes to Healthy Food: Recommendations for Regional Planning Organizations
- PeopleForBikes Supports the Every Kid Outdoors Act
- Get 10% Off Your I’m Safe Reflective and Education Products before March 31!
1. Grassroots Community Residents Lead the Change for a Safer and Accessible Park
Successful parks are markers of healthy communities; children play, families spend time together, people of all ages exercise and relax, and the environment adds to the beauty, security, and economic value of the neighborhood. But what about a neglected and badly designed park? Residents in Planada, California, agreed that having a poorly maintained park was almost as bad as having no park at all. This is the story of how Planada community members are working with Cultiva La Salud and public agencies to transform Houlihan Park from an eyesore to a thriving community gathering place.
2. Early Bird Registration Opens April 1 for the Safe Routes to School National Conference
Mark your calendars: you don’t want to miss the discounted early bird registration for the 2019 Safe Routes to School National Conference in Tampa! Join hundreds of Safe Routes to School and active transportation professionals for a spectacular experience in a culturally vibrant city that is best explored by foot, bike, and public transportation. The conference will provide a space to exchange ideas and share knowledge about the most creative and innovative approaches to creating walkable, bikeable, healthy, and equitable communities where people can lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Learn more here.
3. Congress Talks Climate and Transportation
Climate change has been making a lot of news in the new Congress – from the Green New Deal resolution to a recent hearing on climate and transportation. Read more in our federal blog post about how biking and walking fits into this conversation.
4. Free Webinar on Data Tools to Help Inform Active Transportation Decision-Making
Data Tools for Walking, Biking, and Safe Routes to School Decision-Making
March 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific/1:00 p.m. Eastern
New tools are constantly being developed that help us gather and understand data and inform decision-making around walking, biking, and Safe Routes to School. On this webinar you’ll hear from a state department of transportation that has compiled and mapped Safe Routes to School data in a new tool that helps demonstrate financial transparency, encourages partnership at many levels, and provides access to information for everyone from a parent to a DOT project manager. You will also learn about StreetLight Data and how its applications can be used better understand the walking and bicycling environment and inform decisions that support active travel investments.
5. Now Accepting Applications for the Safe Routes to School Launch Program in California
The Safe Routes Partnership and UC Berkeley SafeTREC are accepting applications for the next round of the Safe Routes to School Launch Program in 2019! We are looking for three California communities eager to move to a new level of safety and support for students walking and rolling to school. This year we are offering two options: an in-person Safe Routes to School community workshop and action planning session, or virtual Safe Routes to School training curated for your community. See our webpage for more information and to submit the interest form by Thursday, March 28, 2019.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
6. And the WABA Goes to…DC Community Engagement Manager Kori Johnson!
Congratulations to our own Kori Johnson, DC Community Engagement Manager, for winning a Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) Biking for All award recognizing her community organizing and advocacy work! Kori leads work with schools in D.C. Wards 7 and 8 to implement active transportation initiatives, including creating designated “Safe Zones” to affect changes where residents live, learn, and play.
7. New Fact Sheet: Safe Routes to Healthy Food: Recommendations for Regional Planning Organizations
No one should have to risk their life walking alongside fast moving traffic or spend two hours on the bus just to get to the grocery store. Yet this is the reality for too many people in the United States, and particularly affects people burdened by other challenges, like low income, lack of vehicle access, and unsafe streets. By working toward Safe Routes to Healthy Food, regions can improve safety and convenience for people walking, biking, and taking public transit to get nutritious foods. This fact sheet is intended to help active transportation and healthy food advocates understand why and how to engage regional planning agencies to improve Safe Routes to Healthy Food.
8. PeopleForBikes Supports the Every Kid Outdoors Act
On Feb. 26, Congress passed a public lands package that included the Every Kid Outdoors Act — which provides all fourth graders and their families free access to national parks. This is a huge win for the outdoors and for public lands, and the culmination of many years of hard work to move these bills through the legislative process. Learn more about this and other policy news.
9. Get 10% Off Your I’m Safe Reflective and Education Products before March 31!
March is the last opportunity to stretch your budget dollars, promote safety, and support the Safe Routes Partnership – all at the same time. Until March 31, use code SRTS19 when you order biking and walking products and reflectives from I’m Safe to take advantage of 10% off with proceeds benefiting the Safe Routes Partnership.
- Save 10% on quality reflectives and safety education materials, customized for your school or organization
- If you are a new customer, I’m Safe will also donate a portion of the proceeds back to the SRTS Safe Routes Partnership
Check out I’m Safe! pedestrian and bicycle safety products here.