This is the February 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
Miller Creek Students Refurbish 68 Bikes
Caltrans Calls for Projects
Novato Recognizes Team Leaders
Rancho School Gets Crosswalk and Stop Signs
Get Ready for Spring Contests
Riding with Youth Classes
Bike Racks from WalkBikeMarin
Join Rodeo Team
FEBRUARY'S CALENDAR
TEAM LEADER EVENTS
Team Leader Valentine's Luncheon
Monday, February 9, 11:30 a.m.
San Rafael Community Center
618 B Street, San Rafael
Teen Go-Green Gathering
Wednesday, March 4, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
San Rafael Community Center
618 B Street, San Rafael
TASK FORCE MEETINGS
Mill Valley Task Force
Thursday, February 12, 9:15 a.m.
Mill Valley School District
4511 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley
Novato Task Force Meeting
Thursday, February 26, 7 p.m.
Novato School District
1015 7th Street, Novato
San Rafael Task Force
Thursday, March 17, 4 p.m.
Davidson Middle School
280 Woodland Ave., San Rafael
Dixie Task Force
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
Miller Creek Library
2255 Las Galinas Road, San Rafael
Ross Valley Task Force
Friday, March 27, 10 a.m.
Ross Valley School District Office
110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo
Miller Creek Students Refurbish 68 Bikes
When the students at Miller Creek’s Teens Go Green (TGG) program put out a call for used bikes as part of their Eco-Challenge project, they predicted they’d get at most 20 bikes. But when the counting was done they had 68 bikes on hand to give to kids in Marin. TGG students collectively selected the air/climate challenge of the Lexus Eco-Challenge contest and created a project that involved collecting, restoring and redistributing used bikes to children in Marin County who do not own bikes. They chose this project because it not only supports a healthy alternative to vehicle transportation but it also makes bikes available for kids who otherwise might not be able to purchase one.
Students then organized a workshop through a BikeWalkMarin grant to learn basic bike repair skills. Students and adults then met at various times afterwards to clean and repair the bikes. They even presented to the Novato Safe Routes to Schools Task Force, which has been searching for used bikes for needy kids in Novato. It was a perfect match, and the district and students will work together to develop a fair and equitable process for distributing the bikes.
Caltrans Call for Projects
$48.50 million is currently available from the California State Legislated Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program to improve infrastrucure. The application deadline is April 15, 2009. These funds are not to be confused with Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funds associated with SAFETEA-LU. Applications must be for capital projects such as sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes, traffic calming, etc. (with up to 10% available for non-infrastructure activities such as education, encouragement and enforcement). Only cities and counties are eligible to compete for these funds and a 10% match is required. Applications must be prepared through city and/or county public works departments.
Novato Recognizes Team Leaders
On December 8th, the Novato City Council, under the direction of Mayor Pat Eklund, recognized the volunteers from Novato Safe Routes to Schools for their outstanding public service. A proclamation was developed and given to Team Leaders at the City Council Meeting. The proclamation expressed the city’s sincere appreciation and gratitude for the citizen volunteer services of each member of the Safe Routes to Schools Task Force. Way to go Novato Task Force!
Rancho School Gets Crosswalk and Stop Signs
Rancho School in Novato had very successful Walk to School Days going last fall, with parents at this largely commuter school dropping their children at a nearby church parking lot and walking to school from there. They also were assigned a crossing guard (from the Transportation Authority of Marin program) at the popular intersection of Johnson and Adams to assist with the children walking to school. However, when it was discovered that there was no marked crosswalk at that intersection, the crossing guard was forbidden to cross the children and the Walk to School Days were halted. After much discussion within the Novato SR2S Task Force, the Novato DPW recommended that the city paint a crosswalk and install stop signs at the intersection to accommodate the walking children. The changes were approved at the Novato City Council meeting on January 13. Walk to School Days will soon resume at Rancho School.
Get Ready for Spring Contests
Students will receive little walking charms and shoe laces as their rewards for walking, biking, carpooling or taking the bus to school. The rewards will be given away as part of the annual Safe Routes to Schools spring contests. Participating schools were offered two contests, the Pollution Punch Card or Frequent Rider Miles. High Schools develop their own competitions. Forty-three schools have signed up for the contest. Each participating school gets contest materials, prizes and a certificate for a new Marin Bike, offered at cost and paid for by a grant from Kaiser Permanente. Prizes and contest materials will be distributed at the February 9th Team Leader Valentine’s luncheon. Those not able to make the lunch can arrange to pick up their packages by contacting Peggy at pegg@marinbike.org
Riding With Youth Classes
Riding with Youth classes are made possible by a recent $25 million federal grant funding the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) in Marin County and the collaboration between WalkBikeMarin and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
Workshops are held six times per year, after school or on a weekend day at various locations throughout Marin County and taught by Safe Routes to Schools instructors.
To learn of scheduled workshops and to register go to MCBC www.mcbc.org or WalkBikeMarin www.WalkBikeMarin.org. To lean more or to schedule a Riding With Youth Workshop contact Peggy at 456-3469 ext 8# or email peggy@marinbike.org
Bike Racks from WalkBikeMarin
Marin County has initiated a Bicycle Parking Program to provide bicycle racks and lockers at a substantial discount as part of the WalkBikeMarin program. Any private business, public agency, or non-profit organization located in Marin County, including incorporated cities and towns, is eligible for the program. For more information or to download an application go to http://www.walkbikemarin.org/bikeparking/ .
Join the Rodeo Team
Safe Routes to Schools works with over 40 schools providing education that creates safer streets to walk or bike to school. Part-time instructors are needed this spring to teach children the importance of seeing, being seen, and remaining in control, at all times when riding a bike.
Instructors are needed to lead elementary school students during our Bicycle Safety Rodeo. This is a great opportunity if you are looking for part-time, occasional work and enjoy working with students. Please review our website www.saferoutestoschools.org to learn more about Safe Routes to Schools. Please send a letter or interest to Peggy Clark at peggy@marinbike.org, or call 415-456-3469, 8#.
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:
Project Coordinator:
Laura Kelly
415-456-3469 ext. 2#
laura@marinbike.org
For information on
school classes:
Project Coordinator
for Logistics:
Peggy Clark
415-456-3469 ext 6#
peggy@marinbike.org
