Marin County Safe Routes to Schools
Team Leader Newsletter
February 2005

TEAM LEADER UPDATES

1. March is Safety Month
2. Riding with Youth Training March 12th
3. Sign up for a Neighborhood Achievement Award
4. Youth Earth Day Event April 24
5. Sign up for Environmental Classes
6. Bike Polo Anyone?
7. We need a Cargo Van
8. Featured School - Lagunitas School

TEAM LEADER UPDATES

1. March is Safety Month

Time to change your posters from "It's Healthy" to "Less Traffic". March is Safety Month. Use this month to stress the need for reducing traffic, emphasize drivering safety, and promote safe bicycling and walking. Attached please find the fact sheet for safety and traffic issues. You can also download the former version that has different facts on it at http://www.saferoutestoschools.org/pdfs/SafetyTalkingPoints2005.pdf

Here are some ideas for promotion in March:

• Put on a special Walk and Roll to School Day where people can experience how much nicer it is when there are less cars at school. Make signs that promote traffic safety.
• Have a traffic safety day in cooperation with your police department. The police come out and remind parents about driving safely by issuing warning tickets. They can also present to the kids at an assembly about safety issues.
• Schedule a Neighborhood Ride, to learn how families can bike with children. Contact Jason Agar at Jason@marinbike.org or 456-3469 x 6#.
• ScheduleaYikes assembly (it's a good way to promote Frequent Rider Miles as well) - contact Melanie Grubman at Melanie@marinbike.org or 456-3469 x 5#.
• Promote driver's safety by using mottos such as:
  • Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25 Take 5 - suggest that parents start their day just five minutes earlier in the morning so that they are not rushed and stressed.
  • Promote Helmet Safety - Host a helmet raffle by getting helmet donations from a local store; invite SR2S staff to do a free helmet fitting day during lunch, give out free stickers to decorate their helmets; give out detention referral slips to students not wearing their helmets; host a helmet fashion/decoration day during lunch.
  • Crazy Reflector Day - give out reflectors and lights as a gift to those biking and walking to school. You may contact Melanie for more information about cheap sources for reflectors at 456-3469 ext. 5#

2. Riding with Youth Training March 12th

Wonder how you can teach your children how to ride safely on the road? Want to get a head start in teaching them how to drive? Safe Routes to Schools is presenting three hours of fun skill building activities and group ride practice on: Saturday March 12th, 2005 9 AM - 12 PM. Meet at: Marin County Bicycle Coalition / Safe Routes to Schools office, Fair-Anselm Plaza, 733 Center Blvd. Fairfax, CA 94930. Bring: Your bike, your helmet, snacks and adequate clothing for relaxed bike ride.

RSVP to: Jason Agar, Safe Routes Instructor (415) 456-3469 ext. 6#

3. Sign up for a Neighborhood Achievement Award

The Marin Community Foundation is accepting nominations through Feb. 28 for the spring Neighborhood Achievement Awards which recognize grassroots group achievements that have improved Marin County neighborhoods. One-time awards of up to $5,000 will be given.

Eligible groups can not have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation but will require a fiscal sponsor. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition can act as your fiscal sponsor. You can use this award to subsidize your activities, buy extra prizes or treats, or otherwise support your program. See www.marincf.org under "resources" and then "awards programs" for more information and nomination forms.

4. Youth Earth Day Event - April 24

Safe Routes to Schools along with three other youth-based environmental programs in Marin are organizing a Youth-Empowerment Earth Day, on Sunday, April 24, at the College of Marin. You can expect an outstanding event celebrating Earth Day and the power of a whole new generation of activists.

The all-day event will feature a full lineup of hands-on activities and entertainment geared towards families and teens. Entertainment will include everything from high school talents in music, dance and poetry to professional acrobatics and jugglers. Workshops for families and teens will offer real opportunities to get dirty, get involved, and get inspired. The week before the event, each organization will offer in-the-classroom presentations around Marin County.

The day will begin with Ride n' Seek, a Rolling Treasure Hunt sponsored by Safe Routes to School and Marin General Hospital's Trauma Program, which allows families to explore the safe bike paths while finding the hidden treasures of Marin. Bring your brains and your bikes.

Other workshops during the day will teach how to make real change in your community through better nutrition, by growing food, and by making better transportation choices. Workshops celebrating the concept of reuse and recycling will offer craft and public art opportunities for the whole family throughout the day. In addition, community members will have a chance to participate in discussions and service activities through the entire weekend. These events will be promoted as part of the Environmental Film Festival in San Rafael and through the City of San Rafael volunteer services.

We are actively seeking sponsors for this event. All extra proceeds will go to fund Youth Environmental Action in Marin. For more information or to volunteer please contact Melanie at Melanie@marinbike.org or 456-3469 x 5#..

5. Sign up for Environmental Classes

Help students make the connection between their transportation choices and the environment! Safe Routes to Schools instructors can come to your school during Earth Week from April 18- 22nd. to teach the following special classes. Call or e-mail Melanie at 456-3469 ext. 5# or Melanie@marinbike.org.

Greenhouse in a Bottle (5th grade)

Greenhouse in a Bottle is a science demonstration that simulates the earth's environment before and after the greenhouse effect. Safe Routes to Schools uses the excitement of a hands-on experiment to help students see and discuss how their transportation choices directly effect the environment.

Family Mouse Behind the Wheel (Kindergarten & 1st grade)

Gather students 'round to hear a fable with an environmental message. Family Mouse Behind the Wheel tells the story of road construction and how the animals of the forest abandon their automobiles in favor of preserving their forest home in its natural state.

6. Bike Polo Anyone?

Safe Routes to Schools is looking for a set of used Bicycle Polo mallets to use with our education and after-school programs. If you have a set and are interested in passing them along to Safe Routes, please call Jason at 456-3469 ext 6#. Additionally, if you have wood shop access and are interested in making new mallets, please call.

7. We Need a Cargo Van

Safe Routes to Schools needs a cargo van to transport our Rodeo equipment. If you know of a van to donate, or have a connection to a car dealership that could donate a lease on a van please contact Wendi Kallins at wendi@marinbike.org or 488-4101. We would also accept the loan of a van or truck for the months of March through May.

8. Featured School - Lagunitas School

Lagunitas Families Learn Bike Maintenance

Safe Routes to Schools along with the San Geronimo Valley Community Center hosted a Family Bicycle Maintenance Night on Tuesday, February 4. Under a full sky of stars and with crickets singing in the hills, families arrived to learn the basics of being prepared and keeping safe on a family bike ride. Though the temperature reminded folks that it was still winter, the place bustled with talk and plans for the longer spring days of bike riding.

While participants munched on pot-luck delights, Safe Routes to Schools instructors provided hands-on lessons. They covered such topics as maintaining the family bikes, fixing a flat tire, adjusting your child's helmet and packing thoroughly for a bike ride with the family. Children learned to check their own bicycles and helmets for safety hazards, and parents learned about the proposed Safe Routes to Schools infrastructure improvements for the San Geronimo Valley. An art corner provided tools and materials for making mobiles out of used bike parts.

Staff members from Sunshine Bicycles in Fairfax performed quick bike assessments for free and also offered tools for sale. Many thanks also to Mike's Bikes and Fairfax Cyclery for donating necessary supplies for this outstanding event, and to the wonderful volunteers who made it happen, including team leaders Chloe Cook and Kelly Hunt. If you would like to plan a similar event for your school contact Melanie@marinbike.org

Thank you for your leadership in your community! For more information please contact Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director at (415) 488-4101 or wendi@marinbike.org

Safe Routes to Schools is a program funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and administered by the County of Marin on behalf of the Transportation Authority of Marin and the County, Cities and Towns of Marin.