Monday, April 27, 2009

I cann't come to the meeting but I would really like you to keep me informed

If you cannot come to the meeting, or want to get in touch with suggestions or questions, you can add a comment to these posts, and then everybody can share your concern. Alternatively, you can email us: velocipedus at gmail dot com or alison at kendallplanning dot com.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Bike to School Week: Task List

Follow-up Tasks for Walk Bike to School Day:
Confirm JAMS preferred Bike Day
Contact JAMS PTSA and parent, student, teacher leaders re. April 28 mtg
Contact City and bike shops re prizes
Start email contact list for each school
Develop promotion, survey and count information
Document current bike parking (Photos)

Bike Safety Skills Ideas
Bike Safety Assembly-SM Police, LACBC, SSA
Helmet Use, Right side, sidewalk, common crash causes
Bike fit and maintenance
Offer Kids One + Two and Road One/101 at both schools in May?
Ron Durgin, Michael Cahn, Henry Hsieh, other new LCIs
Develop special Middle School class 2-3 hrs, after school?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Planning Walk or Bike to School Day













WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY PLANNING MEETING

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 3:30-5:30pm,
Meeting in Room 312, Blue Core
Lincoln Middle School
1501 California Avenue
Santa Monica CA 90403
Note: Room 312 is on ground floor,
near staff parking lot off California and the bike rack, of course!

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introductions
Purpose: Plan for Walk or Bike to School Days June 1-5, 2009

2. Safe Routes to School at SMMUSD – Alison Kendall


3. Bike Day Organizing at Samohi – Lulu Mickelson and Theo Benjamin,
Samohi Solar Alliance

4. Walk-Bike Day at Lincoln June 3 and JAMS Middle Schools – June 3 or 5, 2009

5. Bicycle Safety Education Ideas for May:
Bike Safety Assembly
Bicycle Skills Classes - After School, LACBC and SM Police SRO
Helmet Sales at School
Sponsorship for Helmet Prize Giveaway
Safer Route Planning – Distribute Bike Maps
Additional Safe Bicycle Racks – Bike Valet?

6. Getting the Word Out:
Staff, Parent and Student Leaders at each School
School Administration and Security Staff
City: Police, CREST, TDM
PTSA Meetings, including Malibu, Council
School Email Lists
Student Posters
Competition/Rewards
Local Press


7. Collecting Information
Helmet Use and Bike Counts
Classroom Surveys: Walk, Bike, Transit, Carpool, Drive?
Rewards for Participation – Sponsors?
Calculate Carbon Savings
Recruit Volunteers for Next Year + Safe Routes

Thursday, April 2, 2009

SMMUSD Adopts Bicycle Resolution

Click on image to see original text

At the meeting in the SMMUSD District offices the board members voted unanimously for the Resolution. Yeah! Thanks to Alison for the great work, thanks to Tana for the inspiration, thanks to Barbara for her support and being there early on. Thanks to Jim, Ron, Mihai, Anthony and most of all A Super Great Thank you to the students of SAMOHI, the Solar Alliance and the Bicycle Coalition: You've got the wheel rolling, and now we have a commitment from the district, and that means, that means, that means, that means the-sky-is-the-limit. Anyone said we need to think big? Yes indeed. And we may have a test on this resolution tomorrow, so we better all memorize it.

The discussion highlighted the need be flexible with the bike to school date because of conflicts with examinations. There was emphasis to ensure helmet use, there was a suggestion to count cyclists, and to report back on accident numbers, in order to improve dangerous roadways. There was a very interesting suggestion to honor, annually, a student, a parent, and a member of staff or teacher for "services to cycling", and now, --- leaving out all the Whereas - here is the Resolved

Resolved: The District supports the annual National “Bike/Walk to Work Week”, May 11 - 15, 2009, and the District also declares Friday, May 15, 2009 “Bike/Walk to School Day” for students and school staff;

Resolved: The District will support the establishment of bicycle clubs and other student clubs to encourage walking and biking to school.

Resolved: The District and school safety staff will work with the PTSA, local police and school resource officers and cycling organizations to maximize opportunities for safety education for cycling students as offered by the League of American Bicyclists, including promoting use of bicycle helmets, knowledge of traffic rules and cycling skills;

Resolved: The District will encourage schools to document unsafe pedestrian and bicycle routes to the schools in conjunction with Safe Routes to Schools programs;

Resolved: The District will actively pursue Safe Routes to School State infrastructure grant funding for improved bicycle facilities and infrastructure;

Resolved: The District will direct all schools receiving Safe Routes to School grants to include parents and staff in the educational effort;

Resolved: The District will offer their staff commute alternatives programs based on local Transportation Demand Management ordinances so that staff and teachers can become commuting role models for their students;

Resolved: The District will host a safe cycling course for staff and teachers as part of the commute alternatives;

Resolved: The District will collaborate with the city of Santa Monica to implement sustainable transportation policies for schools and other district facilities;

Resolved: The District will collaborate with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition to develop a blueprint for Bicycle Policy Guidelines to be adopted by the District Health and Safety Advisory Committee and implemented by each school’s safety committee;

Resolved: The District schools will distribute free information to students, staff and parents on alternative modes and public transportation to schools provided by Big Blue Bus;

Resolved: This District should do all that it can to promote walking and cycling as a viable means of transportation to schools and offices;

Resolved: The District should encourage students, parents and school staff members to walk, bike, or take a bus to schools instead of driving;

Resolved: By 2012 all schools in the district are to have safe and secured bicycle parking facilities, meeting relevant bicycle rack specifications and providing sufficient secure bicycle parking capacity to meet the most recent CHPS standards for California schools such as a fenced bicycle area with bicycle racks, for students and staff and visitors. City of Santa Monica or LA DOT standards for bicycle racks should be consulted for updated standards. A range of bicycle parking, including some weather protected parking, bike parking accessible outside school hours, and bike parking near all campus entries should be provided.

Happy Bicycle Parking Everybody! What next?