Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Increasing Active Transportation among Elementary Schoolchildren Plaistow, NH Student, Plaistow, NH

The need for Safe Routes to School 1969: 42% walked 2001: 16% walked (CDC, 2005)

One unintended result of children’s reduced, daily walking & biking.

BMI Indicator IndicatorAFHY Target KSD KSD Cheshir e County N.H U.S. % of 3 rd grade children overweight and obese 20%43%39%32%33%n/d

Other unintended consequences of Less Biking & Walking More drop-off autos idling = Impaired Schoolyard Air Quality More schoolyard autos/buses = More Accidents Involving Children

Good News! Safe Routes to School Programs are increasing walking & biking.  > Walking & bicycling conditions  > Children’s physical activity  < Schoolyard air pollution Dallas, TX New Hampshire's First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch leads Kimball School Students from Concord SRTS

Additional Benefits of SRTS Programs  Less auto congestion around schools,  Greater student “readiness to learn”,  Greater child’s sense of freedom,  Established lifetime exercise habits,  Pedestrian & bicycling safety skills for life.

SRTS Basis – the 5 E’s  Engineering  Education  Enforcement  Encouragement  Evaluation

Keene’s SRTS Involvement START-UP GRANT = Data & 5 E’s 2007 Jonathan Daniels - $ 4, /2012 Symonds - $ 3, Franklin & Waldorf - $4,800 ‘ish award TRAVEL PLAN GRANT = Recommendations for Built-Environment Improvements 2009 Jonathan Daniels Elementary Travel Plan - $ 14, MOA between City Council & School Board INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT = Built items, e.g. “Road Diet”, “Open Street” event, crosswalks, etc Jonathan Daniels – $ 149,000 unsuccessful Jonathan Daniels Infrastructure Grant – $ 130,000 award last week.

Keene’s First Data 62 % students live < 1/4 mile from JD 20% morning traffic is generated by cars <5 min. from school. (Keene, 2008; SRTS-JD Data) Jonathan Daniels Elementary School Traffic-Keene, NH

But improved #s are coming in! Phoenix, AZ Winston-Salem, NCAlhambra, CA SRTS Averaged, Morning, Fall Data of Walking/Biking verses Motorized Modes Keene SchoolYearData Periods Jonathan Daniels 14.60%X12%24%31% S-2009, S-2011, S-2012, F-2012, F-2013 Symonds XX13%15%18% W-2011, S-2011, F- 2012, F-2013 Waldorf XX17% 20% S-2011, F-2012, F-2013 Franklin XXX27%35% F-2012, F-2013

Franklin’s Walk & Roll Wednesdays 2013

Keene’s SRTS Team SRTS programs are built through collaborative community partnerships Healthy Monadnock 2020 Champions Keene State College Interns, Volunteers, Professors Schools PTA, Teachers, Principals Parents, Staff, Volunteers City of Keene City Council, SRTS Committee Planning Dep’t, Police Dep’t Public Works Dep’t

NH’s Current SRTS Funding Status $2,770,000 yet to be announced and $5,371,177 overall to actually be spent by awarded communities

What Can Schools do to Increase Walking? a) Amend School Wellness Policies to support walking and biking to school. b) Create dual, year-round, remote drop-off locations for parents who must deliver children to school in personal vehicles. c) Prioritize convenient bike parking at school. d) Require bicycle and pedestrian safety as part of school curricula. e) Work with parents and PTAs to host regular walk and bike to school events. f) Support policies at the City level that make walking and biking safer (i.e. – “Complete Streets”). g) Offer professional development training for teachers on SRTS. h) Create and fund a position for a Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator at the district level.

A Symonds School Journey Symonds School Keene, NH November 2013

5210 Spirit Week  A week in May spotlighting wellness at school and home  Single day walk/bike to school Parental permission  Community Partners- Yankee Lanes, Staff and Parent Volunteers  $

5210 Spirit Week  Single day walk/bike to school, Yankee Lanes remote bus drop-off  Classroom pedestrian safety lessons, Keene State Interns  Mark Fenton, visits Keene Video encouraging students to walk All school assembly with race walking instruction Project A.C.E.S. (All Students Exercise Simultaneously) Financial and Logistical Support- Vision 2020  Community Partners- Staff and Parent Volunteers, Yankee Lanes, Vision 2020, Keene State College, Keene High School Video Production Program, Bus Company

Symonds School Active Commuting Program Grows! Friday Walk & Roll to School  7 Weeks in Fall and 8 weeks in Spring  SRTS Funding for Fall Keene Planning Department support Paid Walk & Roll coordinator Volunteer Safety Vests, Walk & Roll T-shirts, Student Incentives  Keene Police pedestrian safety presentations  No SRTS Funding for Spring

Friday Walk and Roll to School  Incentives/Motivation- Walk and Roll Tickets 100% participation- Walk & Roll points earned for safety patrols, single ingredient snacks & Zero sugar added drinks, family physical activity Fall- Businesses donated passes to local ‘active’ venues, apples and water for the walkers and bikers each Friday Spring- C&S grant funded Class Swim Party at Wheelock Pool & Healthy Popsicles for all  Community Partners- Staff and Parent Volunteers, C ity of Keene, Yankee Lanes, Vision 2020, C & S Wholesalers, Keene Parks and Recreation, Cheshire Ice Arena, Bretwood Golf, Keene YMCA, Ted’s Shoe and Sport, Granite Gorge Ski Area, Hannafords, Shaws, Walmart

Continued Yankee Lanes parking lot 7:45-8am PARENT DROP OFF NO LATER THAN 8am If you arrive at Yankee after 8am, please drop your student off at Symonds. Russell and Wheelock Streets Intersection Bus Remote drop off Students with signed Walk and Roll tickets will exit the bus for a healthy, fun, social walk to school. Kids from neighborhoods in the area can join the walk too ! Reminders: 1. On the ticket below, check off each point earned this week. 2. Kids who walk or bike to school from home should turn in their Walk and Roll ticket to their classroom teacher on Friday. Students MUST bring this signed ticket to participate in Walk and Roll Friday Parent drop off and walkers must arrive at Yankee Lanes between 7:45am and 8:00am. I give my permission for my child, ____________ ______________ to participate in Walk and Roll Friday. First Name Last Name Classroom Teacher and Grade, _______ ____________________ Grade Teacher Check off Walk and Roll Points earned this previous week: ____Today’s Walk and Roll Friday participant (2 pts) ____ 5 th Grade Safety Patrol (2 pts) ____Other Family physical activity deemed appropriate by parent(1 pts) ***If your child brings a morning snack or drinks, s/he will tally a Walk and Roll a W&R point for bringing a single ingredient snack and/or a ZERO sugar added beverage at snack time. Teachers will tally these points at school. Parent/Guardian SIGNATURE ________________________date______________ MAY 24

Current School Year Walk and Roll Goals  Create a sustainable program  Evolve from a school program to a neighborhood and parent effort, with school support  Make active commuting a daily habit vs. an event  Possibly add more days per week in springtime  Have more students arrive READY TO LEARN

Logistics and Program Features  Neighborhood Captains and Parent Volunteers Fingerprinting in compliance with Keene School District volunteer requirements and covering the cost Commitment every Tuesday and Thursday  3 Neighborhood Meeting Points 142 students 28 Parent Volunteers 3 Staff Members  Remote Bus Drop Off Eliminated Developing alternatives to create opportunities for participation  Communication Systems MailChimp, , text, Facebook, Assemblies, backpack notices, School Assemblies, etc

Friday Walk and Roll  Incentives/Motivation-Walker/Biker Punchcards ‘Toe Tokens’ acknowledge each Walk and Roll level attained oDe-emphasize extrinsic prizes Participation so far- GREEN Level-184, Yellow Level-90 Mali Shields, Symonds Staff member handling data base and punchcard system logistics for 357 students Teachers willing to punch Walk and Roll punchcards every Tuesday and Thursday WALK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME- 50+ in the school year  Funding- Community Partner, Vital Essence Wellness Center donated the funds for the punchcards

SRTS Data Slide HERE SRTS Averaged, Morning, Fall Data of Walking/Biking verses Motorized Modes Keene SchoolYearData Periods Jonathan Daniels 14.60%X12%24%31% S-2009, S-2011, S-2012, F-2012, F-2013 Symonds XX13%15%18% W-2011, S-2011, F- 2012, F-2013 Waldorf XX17% 20% S-2011, F-2012, F-2013 Franklin XXX27%35% F-2012, F-2013

 A School Wellness Culture  Home-School Connection  Community Partners  School Based Point Person  Teaching NH kids how to be outside  Fun! What We Know 4 Years Later

2 More Important Community Partners