Warm wishes for a Happy Holiday Season
From all of us at Safe Routes to Schools

This is the December issue of the Marin Safe Routes to Schools ENewsletter. This newsletter provides you with monthly updates of the Marin Safe Routes to Schools program, including highlights of the month.

Highlights of the Month
New Assembly with Tim Cain
Walkabouts for Three Schools
San Rafael Prepares for Task Force Launch
White Hill Bike Club Starts in January
Parents in Fairfax Urge Stress Free Commute
Winterizing Your Walk/Bike to School

DECEMBER'S CALENDAR
Dixie Task Force
Thursday, December 6, 7 pm
Miller Creek Library (To be confirmed)
2255 Las Galinas Road, San Rafael

Mill Valley Task Force
Tuesday, December 11, 9:15 am
Sewer Agency of Southern Marin Conference room
450 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley

Novato Task Force Meeting
Wednesday, December 12, 7 pm
Novato Unified School District
1015 7th Street, Novato

Ross Valley Task Force
Friday, December 14, 10 am
Ross Valley School District Office
110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo

Twin Cities (Corte Madera and Larkspur) Task Force
Tuesday, January 29, 3:15 pm
Larkspur Recreation Dept.
240 Doherty Drive, Larkspur

San Rafael Task Force Meeting Kick Off (tentative)
Wednesday, January 30, 4–5:30 pm
Location to be announced

SCHOOL WALKABOUTS

Loma Verde School
Monday, December 10, 1 pm
399 Alameda de la Loma, Novato

Rancho School
Monday, December 10, 2:30 pm
1430 Johnson St., Novato

Coleman School
Friday, January 25, 8 am
150 Lovell, San Rafael

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New Assembly with Tim Cain
Which would you rather be – stuck in traffic or experiencing the freedom of riding a bike? That is the theme of the new school assembly being developed by Safe Routes to Schools. It will feature a new song written by famed children’s songster Tim Cain -- who will be available to appear in person. The story will build on the Cool the Earth Assembly, but can also stand alone and will be offered to all schools. It will show how children can change the environment and themselves by walking and biking to school. The assembly will be offered to schools as a launch for the spring contests. If you would like to schedule an assembly for March or early April, please contact Laura at laura@marinbike.org or call 456-3469 ext. 2#.


Walkabouts Planned for Three Schools
Three schools will receive expert advice on how to improve safety around schools.  Walkabouts are planned for Loma Verde and Rancho Schools in Novato and Coleman School in San Rafael.  School Team Leaders will lead Safe Routes staff and local public works representatives on a walk near their schools to point out the perceived safety hazards.  The Safe Routes to Schools’ traffic engineer will then produce design concept plans with suggestions for addressing the issues.  School representatives and public works staff will review the recommendations.  Ultimately, the local agency’s public works staff will provide final approval.  The design concept plan is then included in the school’s SR2S travel plan.  See calendar listings for dates.

San Rafael Prepares for Task Force Launch
The San Rafael Unified School District passed a resolution in October to participate in a Safe Routes to Schools Task Force. The district will request representation from each of its schools to join with City staff in gathering information for a travel plan for each school. Already active in SR2S, Sun Valley School has almost completed its travel plan, which will be used as a prototype for other schools.  Safe Routes to Schools’ consulting staff will provide facilitation, organization, and expert advice to the Task Force as well as preparation of the Travel Plans. The kickoff meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 30, 2008 from 4 to
5:30 pm. 

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White Hill Bike Club Starts in January
Middle school students are invited to learn how to become proficient bike riders by joining the White Hill Bike Club in Fairfax.  Learn how bicycling provides both freedom and responsibility.  Students will learn how to “drive” their bikes safely on the road. Club classes will cover basic safety procedures, proper equipment, bike maintenance, and trip planning.  Students will plan a final field trip as part of the class.  The class is offered by Safe Routes to Schools through the San Anselmo Recreation Department and will take place Wednesdays, at 2:20 pm starting January 23, 2008 at White Hill School in Fairfax.  For more information, contact laura@marinbike.org.  To sign up for the Club, call 258-4680.  

Parents in Fairfax Urge Stress Free Commute
Renee Goddard, SR2S team leader for Manor School,  got tired of being stressed because her neighbors were whizzing by in their cars as she biked her young children to school on Cascade Canyon Drive in Fairfax.  So, she launched a campaign to get her neighbor’s attention.  People are noticing “Stress Limit 22” signs around the neighborhood and on flyers distributed throughout the neighborhood.  “Cascade Canyon is a curvy road” reads the brochure.  “So speeding at 28 mph offers you about 25 seconds over the leisurely pace of 22.”  It then goes on to urge them to try driving 22 mph and see how much less stressful it is.  She says she is starting to see a difference in attitude.

Winterizing Your Walk/Bike to School
As the season grows colder and wetter; it doesn’t necessarily need to be less active.  We’re blessed with California weather, which means there will still be sunny days, and even though the temperature is a little nippy, that doesn’t mean the kids have to stay indoors. 

Here are a few tips for cold days:

1. Wear full-fingered gloves

2. Hats, hoods, headbands to cover the neck and ears (under the helmet too)

3. Dress in layers; you warm up quickly when riding.

4. Wear a wind-proof jacket

For rainy days:

1. Wear bright colors

2. Carry umbrellas and wear rain boots

3. Make sure your child has waterproof rain gear

4. When riding a bike with your child, make sure to ride slower. The roads are slick and you need to brake sooner.
   

Safe Routes to Schools
is a program of the
Transportation Authority
of Marin
3501 Civic Center Dr.
San Rafael, CA 94913
www.tam.ca.gov

Project Manager:
David Parisi
415-388-8978
david@
parisi-associates.com

For general
information
on the Safe Routes
program:
Program Director:
Wendi Kallins
415-488-4101
wendi@marinbike.org

For information on
school activities
and classes:
Project Coordinator:
Laura Kelly
415-456-3469 ext. 2#
laura@marinbike.org

©2007 Safe Routes To Schools Marin

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