Margaux Mennesson's blog

The Oregon Safe Routes To School Program recommends completing an Action Plan that initiates evaluation and community involvement activities that prepare the school to seek SRTS project funds through the state program. It is also a valuable tool to strategically plan for and apply for grants from other funding sources.

Action Plans for Best Results Webinar
May 23, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/189659415

We will discuss:

1. The benefits of doing an action plan
2. Step-by-step how to
3. What to do with the results

Panelists are from a rural school wanting to do an action plan (Stephanie Blacklock, Teacher, Black Butte School), an organization who writes action plans (Kim Curley, Commute Options) and the state's program (Julie Yip, Oregon's SRTS Program).

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements:
PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

We have a number of extra Walk+Bike ribbons that we are happy to offer at no charge if you can pick them up from our office (or pay for postage). Ribbons come in packs of 100. Email margaux@btaoregon.org with the amount you need.

You can also order Walk+Bike pencils, stickers, temporary tattoos, and t-shirts through the BTA's online shop year-round.

Don't forget -- every week, we're giving away a Nutcase Helmet and a Columbia Sportswear backpack in a raffle for all coordinators who log their trips.

Celebrating National Bike to School Day at a PBOT Bike Breakfast on NE Going.

Those trip log numbers are steadily ticking up as we enter Week 3 of the Oregon Walk+Bike to School Challenge. Kids and families around the country celebrated National Bike to School Day last Wednesday, and we got a chance to meet some bike trains on the way to school with pancakes and hot chocolate on the NE Going neighborhood greenway. 

Congratulations to our Week 2 raffle winners!

Kathleen McDade wins a day pack from Columbia Sportswear for Ventura Park Elementary.
Molly Haynes wins a Nutcase Helmet for Atkinson Elementary.

Keep logging those trips every week and you'll be entered in the raffle to win extra prizes for your school. The first 75 schools to log final results at the end of the month all receive a gift card for a free pair of KEEN shoes of your choice.

Inspiration of the Week

Portland Village Charter School coordinator Carie W-Folz shared this great story about how neighbors and parents were willing to get their hands greasy to help a kid with a broken chain. 

"Last week, we were biking to school with friends and one of the kids' bike wasn't shifting right. Every time he tried shifting gears, the chain fell off. I put it back on, but it fell off again. We were starting to wonder how many more times this would happen before we got to school.

Tony Periera [of Periera Bicycles, a local celeb] happened to bike past us, and he kindly stopped and put the chain back on. Once again, shifting gears made it fall off. I knew if we didn't change something we'd be really tardy to school. I bungied his bike to my rack, he sat in my backfiets box, and off we all go and get there safely.

Once the kids were in, I saw a school parent (and Metrofiets co-owner) Phillip Ross, who immediately wanted to see the bike and help figure it out. He noticed that the screws on the shifter were out of alignment, and that's why the chain kept falling off when changing gears. He also pointed out that the brake pads need major adjustments to work correctly.

Love our neighborhood bike gurus and all their friendly advice!!! Tony P. & Phillip made out morning so much easier. It was a crazy fun commute, but, we made it!"

-Carie W-Folz

Share your Walk+Bike inspiration

We'd love to hear what your school is doing to encourage walking and biking this month, especially if you're in a rural or suburban location. Send photos and stories to margaux@btaoregon.org.

Walk+Bike Fundraising Challenge - Go Greta!

This testimonial from Greta Sangolla, a teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School in Eugene, Oregon, really sums up the reasons we all care about making biking safer for more kids. We are grateful and inspired by the dedication we see in teachers, parents, and volunteers. Thank you! 

For the past 2 years, I have been organizing the Walk+Bike Challenge events at Spring Creek Elementary School here in Eugene, Oregon. The Walk + Bike Challenge enables students, parents, teachers, and community leaders to raise awareness about the advantages of walking and biking. Healthy families using active transportation benefit everyone by reducing air pollution and health care costs and by increasing neighborhood livability.

With the help and generosity of the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, we have been participating in fun and educational activities such as safety presentations, bike rodeos, and Mobile Museum visits from the Center for Appropriate Transportation. These events encourage students and families to use active trips to travel to and from school. Its about changing your routine, getting outside, out of the car, and living an active, healthy life!

However, the funding for these great activities will not last forever, and I need your help. Please consider donating what you can to keep this program going. Every dollar helps, and goes toward funding these programs all across Oregon. My personal goal is to raise $300 toward the overall goal of $3,000 this season to support communities like the one I teach in, where the majority of students are living in poverty.

Cheers,
Gretta Sagolla
Teaching & Learning Coordinator
Spring Creek Elementary School

Get involved at walknbike.org/support

Does your school need a bike corral? Saris is giving away one bike corral to the photo entry submission that shows the greatest need, location or use of a bike corral.

Entering the contest is easy:

Option 1. Visit the Facebook Contest Page and upload your picture and description using the form before May 25, 2012

Option 2: Email your photo and brief description to Heather at hfortune@saris.com before May 25. Include your name and a phone number where you can be reached.

Entries must be submitted between May 1 - May 25, 2012. Three finalists will be selected and posted on our website for online voting from May 29 - May 30, 2012. The winner will be announced on May 31, 2012.

Saris Parking Representatives are available to assist with product specs., installation recommendations and other details needed for public approval. Contact Jonathon at jtupper@saris.com

For more information and official rules, www.saris.com/bike-corral-contest

Photo: Bill Griesar

Today kicks off the 2012 Walk+Bike to School Challenge! We have a couple reminders and words of encouragement for a fantastic month of walking and biking to school.

Log trips online every week to win more prizes for your school. We'll draw one name from all the coordinators that log trips each week to win a free pair of KEEN shoes and a Nutcase helmet.

It's not too late for schools to register if you know anyone who's up for the Challenge!

May is National Bike Month. The calendar is packed with events, rides, and family-friendly activities, and we have your guide to all the bike fun. 

Meet the BTA's newest guest blogger, Noah, age 12. Noah contacted us wanting to know how he could encourage more kids his age to ride bikes. Read the whole thing on the BTA blog. Keep your eye out for more stories, comics, and articles by Noah.

Want to share your school's story with the Walk+Bike network? Email margaux@btaoregon.org.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance needs your help to sustain and grow the Walk+Bike Education program and encourage more kids in Oregon to stay active, healthy, and safe. 

One of the coolest things the BTA does is to provide a 10-hour, in-school bike safety education program to thousands of Oregon students each year. The 5th graders who graduate the program know how to safely handle a bike, how to signal turns, and probably understand the rules of right of way better than 50% of the adult drivers on our roads. You can pretty much pick out the kids who have participated in our program by seeing how they ride.

Our twenty year goal is to see the program offered in every school in Oregon. Our goal this spring is to raise $3,000 to support the program for one more season in some Oregon communities that are feeling pinched.

We are inviting Walk+Bike coordinators, teachers, parents, and anyone else to join our Walk+Bike Fundraising Challenge to raise money to support our education programs. Set your own personal fundraising goal, then challenge your friends, family, and coworkers to donate. Creativity is encouraged! 

Meet a few of our social fundraisers and check out their pages for inspiration.

Megan Schubel

"I am a 4th and 5th grade teacher in the David Douglas district. My students have been the lucky recipients of the BTA's program for the last six years."

Support Megan

Stephanie Noll

"The experience of biking to school transformed my life as a teenager, so I hope you can lend $10, $30 or more to support this program that's near and dear to my heart."

Support Stephanie

LeeAnne Fergason

"60% of kids don't get exercise outside of school. That's horrible! Let's change it."

Support LeeAnne

Ready to join the Walk+Bike fundraising campaign? (Did we mention there are prizes?)

Get all the details, see sample fundraising pages, and read a social fundraising FAQ here.

Walk+Bike Challenge Month is right around the corner! Make sure your school is ready for the Challenge by attending a FREE coordinator workshop. Three in-person workshops are hosted by Portland Safe Routes to School and one Webinar is hosted by Oregon Safe Routes to School.

At the workshops you can receive additional prizes, learn more about the Challenge, and talk with other organizers. At Portland workshops, Language Translation and childcare services are available upon request.

Wednesday, March 21
10:00-11:00am
Peninsula Park Community Center
700 N Rosa Parks Way, 97217
RSVP: Carolina.Iraheta@portlandoregon.gov

Tuesday, April 3
1:00-2:00pm
Belmont Library
1038 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, 97214
RSVP: Carolina.Iraheta@portlandoregon.gov

Thursday, April 12 *Webinar Training*
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Anyone can register, but space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/129864639 

Wednesday, April 18
9:00-10:00am
Linfield Nursing College
Loveridge Hall, 3rd floor, Nursing Alumni Room
2255 NW Northrup St, 97210
RSVP: Carolina.Iraheta@portlandoregon.gov

System Requirements for Webinar
PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

The BTA's 2012 Walk + Bike Challenge is coming to Oregon schools again this spring! From May 1 through May 31, thousands of kids and families in communities across the state will walk, bike, and skate to school and encourage each other in this fun, active, and friendly competition.

The first 150 schools to register will receive a FREE package of incentives to use as prizes and encourage more participation.

How to register:
1. Log in or create a new user account
2. Choose your school from the drop down menu and click Register
3. If your school isn't on the menu,  follow the instructions to add your school and register

You're done!

Questions? Contact margaux@btaoregon.org or check the FAQs below.

What is the Walk+Bike Challenge?
The BTA's Walk + Bike Challenge is a friendly competition among Oregon elementary and middle schools aimed at encouraging more kids and families to use active transportation to travel to and from school and throughout the neighborhood. School coordinators track the number of students biking, walking, and skating to school throughout the month. At the end of the Challenge, prizes go to the schools that log the most biking trips, the most walking trips, largest total number of students walking and biking, and highest percentage of students (out of the total school population) walking and biking. Winning schools will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Portland (TBA).

Is it free?
Yes!

Who can register a school?
Parents, teachers, principals, volunteers, health and physical education program coordinators, district officials -- anyone who wants to promote walking and biking at your school.

What does a registered school receive?
The first 150 schools to register will receive a FREE package of incentives including stickers, temporary tattoos, and award ribbons to help encourage participation. Every school that registers will receive a coordinator packet with tips and resources for promoting the event, organizing parent volunteers, procuring local prizes, and tracking trips.

What does a coordinator do?
As a coordinator, you get your school community excited about walking and biking during the Challenge. You might need to recruit volunteesr to help you promote the event and plan activities. During the month of May, you keep track of how many students walk, bike, or use other active transportation to get to school. You can log your school's trips each week, or submit your final results at the end of the month using our online trip calendar.

We look forward to the best Challenge ever!

Come join us for the Second Annual Oregon Walk+Bike to School Retreat in Bend, Oregon June 21-23 as Oregonians interested in Walk + Bike to School and Safe Routes issues come together for an event that will give you an opportunity to access training*, learn best practices, network with others working on these issues, and work with us to create a strong state network.

Please register by March 30^th for the low price of $10/day (plus a $2 processing fee). Registration is limited to 100 participants due to space, so please register early to ensure your participation. Click HERE to register.

Here is some information to get you started:

• Cost for the retreat is just $10/day plus a $2 processing fee and includes printed material, trainings, networking, and light snacks.
• Travel and meals are not included but we are working to secure $75 reimbursement scholarships provided to approximately 30 attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis.  We will have more information in March.
• Professional Development Unit Certificates are available. Check with your district to confirm requirements.
• If you are interested in carpooling or room sharing, please use the Walk+Bike Retreat Bulletin Board.

The basic agenda is:

Thursday, 6/21/12:

• 9:00-11:00am: Bike Safety Educators Statewide Debrief. This event is happening in conjuncture with the Retreat and is open to Retreat Participants.
• 12:30-4:00pm: Part 1 of the Bike Safety Education Curriculum and Traffic Safety Training.
• 4:30-6:30pm: Welcome, networking, identifying and prioritizing goals exercise.

Friday, 6/22/12:

• 8:00 am-5:00 pm: Trainings*
• 6:00-9:00pm: Networking Event

Saturday, 6/23/12:

• 9:30-11:30: Walk+Bike Network Annual Meeting and Statewide Partnership discussion. Topics include setting goals for the next year, reviewing last year’s goals and progress.
• 12:30-2:00pm: World Café networking and brainstorming activity.

*Friday Trainings: (more information about trainings can be found at http://eugenesrts.org/orwalkbikeretreat)

• Part 2: Bike Safety Education Curriculum and Traffic Safety
• Neighborhood Navigators Curriculum: Environmental Education
• Encouragement Event Panel Discussion
• Fundraising and Action Plans
• Advocating for your program
• Walk+Bike Encouragement Events

Bertha completing the Bike Safety Education Curriculum Training at the 2011 Retreat

ACTS Oregon is pleased to partner with ODOT’s Transportation Safety Division and reopen theSafe Routes to School Action Plan Mini-Grant. ACTS Oregon will be accepting applications from now through January 20th and will notify selected schools by January 30th 2012. Please download the application under ‘Forms’ for more information on the program.

Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Action Plan Mini-Grants provide up to $3000 in funding to support schools and community organizations in creating the Oregon SRTS Action Plan as the first step for the implementation of a Safe Routes to School program. Mini-Grants are available to schools, government agencies or a non-profit 501(c)(3).

So far, eight Safe Routes to Schools grants have been awarded. The schools participating include Black Butte Elementary, Cove Charter, Irrigon Elementary, Metolius Elementary, Miller Elementary, Shady Cove Elementary, Stayton Elementary and Sweetbrier Elementary.