This is the October 2009 issue of the Safe Routes to Schools’ enewsletter for Marin County, California.
Special Report on Walk to School Day
Another Successful iWalk to School Day
October 7
Fairfax
Marinwood
Mill Valley & Tiburon
Novato
Corte Madera & Larkspur
Ross
San Anselmo
Venetia Valley
SR2S National Partnership
Requests for Letters Extended
Another Successful iWalk to School Day October 7
Children across the county strapped on their helmets and laced up their walking shoes to participate in the 10th annual International Walk to School Day. Over 45 schools created evens for the occasion, with children hoisting colorful signs and banners as they traveled down streets proclaiming: Bike and be Polite; Take A Green Way; Get Out of the Metal and Onto the Pedal; Wheeling to School is So Cool; and Fill up the Bike Racks, not the Gas Tanks. Each student that participated received a color patch from Safe Routes to Schools and the middle and high schools received Z-bars and Fruit Twists donated by Clif Bars.
Fairfax Schools
In Fairfax, Manor, Cascade Canyon and White Hill schools joined forces to walk and bike across town together. The town’s fire truck led off with dozens of bicyclists and walkers following, with more walkers and wheelers joining the parade along the way. At the Fairfax library participants received bagels and cream cheese, courtesy of Delano’s Market. Fueled up, they crossed Sir Frances Drake Boulevard with the aid of the Fairfax police and headed down to their respective schools. Manor principal Catalina Nocon was spotted riding a scooter with the kids. White Hill reported about 100 students bicycling and the bike racks were overflowing.
Check out this Utube video taken by volunteer Bill Lescohier of the parade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PG2EVlxwko
Marinwood
Dixie School had the Marinwood Fire Department lead their parade in two locations. Miller Creek students did a fabulous job participating in the International Walk and Bike to School Day. An informal survey indicated the 61% of students
powered themselves to school by walking or biking. Of those students,
almost half indicated that they stepped out of their comfort
zones because they normally do not walk or bike to school. Many other
students helped the climate and traffic by taking the bus rather than
driving to school.
Mill Valley and Tiburon Schools
Old Mill School organized walking school buses from all corners of downtown Mill Valley with 70% of the students participating. Park School in Mill Valley also exceeded 70% participation. There were record turnouts at Edna Maguire and Mill Valley Middle School as well. In Tiburon, Reed School had 200 participants and at least 450 kids participate from the entire school district.
Novato Schools
Walking School Buses could be seen all over Novato with Lynwood, Pleasant Valley, Hamilton, Our Lady of Loretto, Rancho, Hill Middle and Loma Verde schools organizing events. At Hill Middle School, the student Teens Go Green club manned the table and teachers led walking school buses and bike trains to the school.
Corte Madera and Larkspur Schools
Corte Madera’s Neil Cummins principals Leslie Beatson and Michelle Walker led two
walking groups to campus from the Corte Madera Library on Meadowsweet and from the parking lot behind Twin Cities Market. They also had group rides from East Corte Madera and North Larkspur. Redwood High School had two tables (and music) welcoming students on both entrances. The school’s environmental club had three students per table. There were over 100 students that participated, which is more than in years passed. They also raffled gifts which the students solicited.
Ross School celebrated the completion of the pathway along Shady Lane with a ribbon cutting ceremony and four walking schools buses and three bike trains escorted by the police and fire departments.
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San Anselmo
Wade Thomas and St. Anselms schools in San Anselmo did a fantastic job of riding, walking, busing and carpooling for International Walk and Ride day. They had about 200 students and about 100 parents meet at Creek Park and get to school riding, walking, skateboarding, or scooting. 200+ muffins and
patches got consumed. Thanks to the San Anselmo Police for the escort, Trader Joes for the muffins, and the Green Team for the signs.
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Venetia Valley
Venetia Valley School held its first walk to school day in years and the team leader estimated that they had 80 bus riders and 130 walkers and bikers, with many of them traveling along North San Pedro Road. Thanks to Terra Linda Safeway, Scotty's Market and United Markets for providing extra treats for the students.
MORE
You can check out more pictures from around the world at www.iwalktoschool.org and read Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood blog announcement at http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/10/walk-to-school-day-participants-model-tomorrows-communities-today.html
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SR2S National Partnership Requests Letters of Support
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 23, 2009
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has launched a “Dear Congress: Why Safe Routes to School is Important” campaign. They need your help. They are striving to generate hundreds—if not thousands—of letters from children, parents, program staff and volunteers, and school and city leaders talking about why Safe Routes to School matters to individuals and communities. They will bundle your letters and share them with members of the House and Senate so that they know how many people in their states and districts value Safe Routes to School.
For more information on how you can join the letter-writing campaign, please visit http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/national/299443 and look for the link on the homepage. The deadline for the campaign is October 23, 2009.
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 8#
peggy@marinbike.org
