Oregon News

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.

Tomorrow is International Walk+Bike to School Day! A record 228 schools in Oregon have signed up to encourage more students and families than ever to try walking and biking to school. Here are three tips to ensure a successful event.

1. Take photos and/or video of students and families walking and biking. Want to share highlights with schools around the state? Email photos and video links to Margaux at margaux@btaoregon.org.

2. Count the number of students, parents, and teachers who participate. Don't worry about getting an exact head count. A few volunteers can help you estimate the number of kids and families arriving at the school or entering classrooms.

3. Complete our short evaluation survey right away. Your feedback is key to help the BTA and our partners improve the program, incentives, and resources for coordinators.

Click here to take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RK2B73P

Bonus raffle: Five survey respondents will win their choice of a Nutcase helmet, 100 pairs of shoelaces, or 200 Walk + Bike stickers. Complete the survey by Wednesday, October 12 for your chance to win.

All the best!

-The Walk+Bike Team

If you received your incentive box this week, you may have noticed it's missing the Walk + Bike shoelaces. The shoelaces will arrive in a separate package within the next week.

If you registered after September 15, you will be in the next round of mailings. Register by Wednesday, September 21 to make sure your school is in the next round of mailings!

You can now download the coordinator packet for Walk + Bike to School Day 2011. 

And for your photo inspiration of the day... 

Photo by Greg Raisman

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for 25 mini-grants of $1,000 each. These mini-grants support the goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, which is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. Mini-grants may fund activities ranging from the nuts and bolts that help start or sustain a safe walking and bicycling program to new ideas that explore the range of benefits of safe walking and bicycling. For more information, please see www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/call-for-application.

Applications are due Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

Welcome back to Walk + Bike season! Is your school on the list of schools that have already registered for International Walk+Bike to School Day?

If not, now is the time to register! International Walk+Bike to School Day is coming up on October 5!

Join students and families across the globe who are celebrating International Walk+Bike to School Day to promote the benefits of safe, healthy, active transportation.

Be one of the first 240 schools to register, and you'll receive a FREE package of incentive prizes - including a Nutcase helmets, neon shoelaces, and reflective stickers – to encourage students to walk and bike.

If you've already signed up, now is the time to start preparing the day's event. This year, Walk+Bike partners are offering several training opportunities along with resources available online.

Walk+Bike Coordinator Webinar
School coordinators around the state can participate in a free webinar training on September 14th from 3:30 – 4:15PM. To RSVP, please email lynnemutrie@comcast.net

Walk+Bike Blog
Also on the blog, we are sharing tips and successes from schools around the state so we can spread ideas and learn from each other. If you've got tips/stories to share, email us about doing a feature on your school/community.

Portland Coordinator Resources
If you are in Portland there are in-person trainings on 8/30, 9/15, 9/19, and 9/20. Check out this calendar of events to get times and addresses.

There are also some great free resources for Portland schools – including maps and incentive prizes for students – available from the City of Portland’s Safe Routes to School. Click here to order online, or contact Safe Routes at SafeRoutes@PortlandOregon.gov or 503-823-1189 to request a paper order form.

We're excited to have you back and are looking forward to a great Walk+Bike Day!

The school year has begun! For those of you with students in your lives, this time of year is stressful and exciting. It also presents a great opportunity to set positive habits for your family that will last all year. Try to make time one morning this week to walk, bike, or roll with your student to school. Your student will thank you for it!

The latest edition of Portland Safe Routes' quarterly Safe Routes News is chock-full of tips if you need inspiration.

In this issue:

· The 10-Second Rule

· Emerson’s TriMet Trekkers

· New Crosswalk for Kelly School

· Back to School tips for drivers

· 2011 International Walk + Bike to School Day

· Calendar with fall helmet & booster seat sales

· And a new Safe Routes Puzzler!

Deadline: September 9, 2011

ACTS Oregon, in partnership with ODOT Transportation Safety Division, is pleased to announce that applications for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan Mini-Grants are now open. The SRTS Action Plan mini-grant provides up to $3000 to fund the process to complete the Oregon SRTS Action Plan for a school, public or private, serving any grades from kindergarten up to 8th Grade.

The Action Plan work is a team-based process. The school team evaluates the ability of students to safely walk and bicycle to/from the school by identifying the barriers and hazards within two miles of the school. With the conclusions drawn from the collected information, the team will be able to recommend priority projects and activities that the school, municipality and community can advance to promote safe walking and bicycling to school.

Applicants must be schools, government agencies or a non-profit 501(c)(3). A completed Action Plan is the first step in the application process for Oregon Safe Routes to School funding, for both Infrastructure (engineering) and Non-Infrastructure (education and outreach, enforcement and evaluation) projects and activities.

We are looking to award up to 15 mini-grants, with a proposed start date after October 14, 2011. The outcome of the mini-grant will be a completed school Action Plan, plus school encouragement activities in May 2012 promoting walking and bicycling to/from the school. To apply, download the Safe Routes to School Action Plan Mini-Grant application form from http://actsoregon.org/grants.html . The deadline for the applications is September 9, 2011.

For more information on the Mini-Grants contact Charity Sturgeon, Community Traffic Safety Program Coordinator.

Thanks again for participating in the 2011 Walk+Bike Challenge. Together, you helped make this the most successful Walk+Bike Challenge ever. The BTA is thrilled that 75 schools submitted results on time. This is more than double the return rate in past years.

We would like to ask for a few more minutes of your time to complete this short 10-question survey. Your feedback helps us improve the program, the website, and coordinator resources for next year.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2R7PHXQ

Also, take the opportunity to register your school now for International Walk+Bike to School Day on October 5. Sign up now at www.walknbike.org, and we will email you in September to confirm your participation and mail your package of incentives, giving you plenty of time to organize and promote your event.

Thank you!

Congratulations to all schools on another successful Walk + Bike Challenge! The BTA looks forward to receiving your final challenge results by Monday, June 6.

Here are three reasons to make sure you log those trips.

1. Celebrate the effort of students who walked and bike this year, and help the BTA make the program even more successful next year. 

2. Free KEEN Shoes!

The first 75 schools to submit their final challenge results will all receive a Keen Shoes gift card! 

3. Free Portland Timbers Tickets!

Submit your school's results by 6 pm, Friday, June 3rd to be in the running to win 40 tickets to the Portland Timbers game on Saturday, June 11th for your school. 

Final results must be submitted by 6 pm, Monday June 6th to be eligible to win an award at our ceremony on June 12th.

Bonus:Walk+Bike Challenge Awards and Free Family Fun at the Cirque du Cycling on June 12th!

Mark your family's calendar to join us for a fun-filled afternoon at the N. Mississippi Ave. Cirque du Cycling on Saturday, June 12th.  The BTA will be announcing the winners of the Walk+Bike Challenge, leading a fun family bike ride and walk, and joining the Cirque du Cycling Parade.  

12:00: Registration for Family Ride and Family Walk opens at Grand Central Bakery Family Fun Zone (714 N. Fremont)

12:30: Walk+Bike Challenge Awards Ceremony at Family Fun Zone Stage (714 N. Fremont)

1:00: Family Bike Ride departs. 3 mile round-trip ride complete with snack and play rest stop! Make sure to bring your bike and helmet and come early to register!

1:00- Family Walk departs. 1 mile round-trip walk complete with snack and play rest stop! Wear you walking shoes and come early to register!

2:30: Bike Ride and Walk join the Cirque Du Cycling Parade down Mississippi Ave.!