Question 1

Safe Routes to School Round Table

Accepted Answer

Develop a regular recurring meeting (at least quarterly) with members from the following members in your community:

• School Administrators (each school and district representative)
 • One City Elected Official
 • One School Board Elected Official
 • One Agency Transportation Staff
 • One Agency Public Safety Staff 
 • Parent Teach Association Representatives

Meetings should follow Brown Act process and be publicly noticed for interested parents to attend.  Parents should be encouraged to share their school concerns with PTA representatives who present and discuss community concerns at the round tables; this will minimize impacts and agency staff resources and allow for discussion on future changes with the round table.

The round table should not vote on direction, it strictly a discussion forum and opportunity to discuss policy, programs, and projects.

Question 2

Preferred Route to School Maps

Accepted Answer

Maps that highlight preferred walking and biking routes to school and that include Rules of the Road for driving and parking to educate and encourage safe transportation practices.

• Preferred Route to School Maps should include:
 • Priority travel routes along lower volume streets and trail routes for students
 • Highlight crossings at controlled intersection
 • Identify intersection controls, trail connections, and adult crossing guard locations
 • For intersection controls Traffic Patterns recommends identifying traffic signals, All Way Stops, Pedestrian-Activated Flashing Beacons crossings, and marked crosswalks.  STOP controls on side-streets only are not recommended to avoid map clutter.
 • Promote Park & Walk sites to reduce congestion at schools
 •  Highlight on-campus bicycle parking
 • Include travel-time radius guides at a minimum one quarter, one half, and one mile radiuses for bicyclists and pedestrians
 • If “community meet up” locations are designed for students to meet and travel to school together, highlight on the maps as well.
 • For high vehicle commute-use schools, on campus staging travel paths are recommended.

Traffic Patterns recommends the use of SchoolRoutes.org (http://www.schoolroutes.org/)to develop and publish preferred route to school maps.  The platform makes maps available through a web portal and on free mobile apps.  The mobile apps will guide students and parents onto and along suggested routes.  If a City or School actives “Registration Tools” parents and student can established virtual School Depot Stations to establish Bike Train, Walking School Bus, and Carpool programs that communities can use to promote walking and biking and reduce vehicle congestion.  Online distribution of preferred route maps also reduced printing and waste.

Los Gatos CA Safe Routes to School Study (https://3bfb6f8d-2914-4273-8539-0bda74e56719.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bfb6f_da7d1bdbba4b4259a2e8ac0f5d25ecc1.pdf)               SchoolRoutes.org Online Maps(https://user.schoolroutes.org/maps.php)

Question 3

Infrastructure Improvement Maps

Accepted Answer

Typically developed in conjunction with the preferred route to school maps, the infrastructure improvement maps guide investments in capital improvements to ensure that the suggested routes are as the safest for community use. Infrastructure priorities should focus, at a minimum, on:

• Sidewalk Gap Closures and Repairs
 • Class I Trail improvements
 • On- and Off-Street Bicycle Infrastructure
 • Traffic Calming measures
 • Crosswalk Improvements including new controls such as traffic signals, All Way STOPs, and Pedestrian-Activated Flashing Beacon Systems
 • Parking controls
 • Vehicle Access Controls (turning movement and parking restrictions)
 •  Streetlighting
 • Adults Crossing Guards

Whenever an agency discusses future General and CIP investments, Safe Routes to School investments should be prioritized.

The Preferred Route to School and Infrastructure Improvement maps are typically referenced when pursuing grant funding.  Available programs that can aid in development of these resources include the Federal Highway Administration - Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Program.(https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A)

Question 4

Education & Encouragement Programs

Accepted Answer

The preferred route maps are a form of education and encouragement and community investments without on-going education minimize the benefits that improvements offer.  In-class education starting at the third-grade level is strongly recommended along with community rides to encourage biking and walking activity.

Bike Rodeos
As part of in-class physical ed curriculum bike rodeos are a fun and easy way to educate students on Rules of the Road and to encourage walking and biking to school.  Parent volunteers are key in building and operating mock intersections that students can walk and bike through to practice lessons.  Make bike rodeos as fun as possible and include stations to fit bicycle helmets and to distribute giveaways.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bfb6f_9289ed1749c04dbb9802a11df59ebab0~mv2.png

School Depot Stations
Establish community school depot stations at nearby parks or trails where students can meet to walk and bike to school together. This is a great way for students to make friends and build comradery.  Sign the locations in the field and consider community investments such as Bike Repair Stations, streetlighting, and water fountains (don’t forget the pet water fountain).

SchoolRoutes.org (http://www.schoolroutes.org/)includes a School Depot Station tool that students and parents can use create virtual depot.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bfb6f_8d849d49ef19466fbe0d92c15c0d0182~mv2.png

Community Ride- and Walk-Alongs
Before the start of the school year and as new field improvements are made, use community ride- and walk-alongs to promote new routes.  Promote the events using social media and school communications outlets.  Make the events as fun as possible, get participation from public safety and elected officials, and use the opportunity check bikes for maintenance and helmet checks.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bfb6f_ce6d2ac506054f5d8372de4914b672df~mv2.png

Green Tracker
Use technology tools to help students track their carbon footprint over their school career.  Reward milestones with incentives to continue walking and biking behavior helping to make it a lifestyle preference.  SchoolRoutes.org (http://www.schoolroutes.org/)has a Green Tracking tool that records walking and biking for students and allows agency and school administrators to rewards milestones through notices and wallet rewards including gift cards.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL