Safe Routes Philly | Promoting biking and walking as fun, healthy forms of transportation in Philadelphia Elementary Schools.

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Is a walking club right for your school?

Does your school have a lot of students already walking to school? Or, do you want to get more students walking? Check out our guide for starting a walking club at your school! Photo courtesy of www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

Looking for Act 48 Credit?

You've come to the right place! Safe Routes Philly training sessions for Philadelphia Public School 2nd, 5th and middle school PE teachers. Click here for more information about our sessions.

Helmet Fitting with Mr. Cy

Are helmets really cool? How can a helmet help you? Check out our new video with Mr. Cy!

Kids Love Helmets

Few people would choose to ride in a car with no seat belts. So why hop on a bike without a bike helmet? Helmets simply make sense in all riding conditions, particularly since at least 21 states carry laws requiring them. Take a look at our tips for buying a helmet.

EVENTS
NEWS

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant

The Spring 2012 cycle is now open. The deadline for submitting applications for this grant cycle is February 17, 2012 5pm EST. However, if 1500 applications are received before the application deadline, then the application process will close.

To get started, click on the “How to Apply” link at the top of this page. Fall 2011 cycle applicants will be notified via email as to the status of their grant application by early January 2012.
Introduction to Mountain Biking Class

2/11/2012 at 9am at the Conshohocken REI location. For more information and to register online click here. Class size is limited to 12 spaces, so act fast. Must be 14 or older to participate.
Introduction to Road Cycling Class

2/19/2012 at 10am at the Marlton REI location in NJ. For more information and to register online click here. Class size is limited to 12 spaces, so act fast. Must be 12 or older to participate.
2012 5th grade National Poster Contest

Theme: Bicycling Takes me places

Submit Entries by March 1st! Read about this competition here.

2011 Poster Contest Winning Design

With spring around the corner it is a great opportunity to get our fifth grade students thinking about the bicycle as a way of getting places (for fun or for transportation). Ask each student to create a poster that reveals his or her understanding of the many different values of bicycling (it is fun, healthy and green). Students should make sure their poster follows the contest rules by using the checklist below. The winners will be selected by a panel of individuals from the Bicycling Industry.
National Bike Summit

March 20 – 22, 2012
Washington D.C.

This year’s National Bike Summit, organized by the League of American Bicyclists, will focus on saving funding for cycling nationwide. Applications for presenters are being accepted until early 2012. More information and registration is available from the League’s website.

Kickoff Meetings For Delco Open Space, Recreation, & Greenway Plan Greenway and Open Space Plan
The Delaware County Planning Department is working on a County Open Space, Recreation and Greenway Plan. The Department will host two meetings on February 23rd to kickoff the public involvement component of the plan.Read more »
FREE Walkability Audits for Schools in PA
The Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center has free Walkability Audits available to schools in PA. This key planning tool provides schools with the technical assistance necessary to assess walking and biking conditions along routes to school and create a plan for improving them. The walkability audit process is led by a traffic engineer with the help of a team of local school officials, municipal representatives, law enforcement officials, and other community members. After a two-day assessment of existing or potential walking routes, the school is presented with a final report that includes short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations for improving safety and increasing student participation along the walking routes. Any school interested in a walkability audit can obtain an application form online at www.saferoutespa.org/walkability-audits or by contacting info@saferoutespa.org or (717) 763-0930 (ask for Safe Routes). If your school is deemed eligible for an audit, a representative from the Pennsylvania SRTS Resource Center will be in touch to schedule a two-day site visit with an SRTS engineer.
Contact Your Senators And Reps About Important Transportation Votes Next Week
Call your Senators and Representatives!
Both chambers of Congress will be debating transportation bills next week. Sadly, both are terrible. We can dream about a day in which we call our Congressmen to ask that they not spend quite so much money on active transportation. But today we have to speak up or risk losing all the ground we've gained in the past 50 years.Click here to take action (via League of American Bicyclists)!The House of RepresentativesWe've covered the unmitigated disaster that is the House Bill already. The full House will be debating the bill (HR 7) next week, which means you should call your Representative and voice your opposition to this horrendous bill.The SenateThe Senate's own transportation bill allows state DOTs to opt-out of safe streets programs. Under this bill, DOTs could prevent cities and counties from receiving any federal funds for biking and walking infrastructure (money previously received from Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs).An amendment to be considered next week would allow local governments to apply directly for federal funds to build walking and biking infrastructure. This Cardin-Cochran amendment doesn't redeem the bill, but it's an improvement, and our Senators need to hear our support for it. Send an e-mail or call their office directly.Why? Here are four arrows for your quiver:Walking and biking infrastructure are low-cost and create more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending.The House Bill (HR7) takes us back to the 1950s by eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking, plus kicking transit out of the highway trust fund.The House Bill eliminates Safe Routes to School, an effective and successful program helping our children stay safe while walking or biking to school.Local governments know their transportation needs the best. The Cardin-Cochran amendment allows local government to apply for funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways before that funding is diverted to highways.The League of American Bicyclists has set up an e-mail system to automatically direct your message to the appropriate Senator and Representative.

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Teacher Completion Form
Act 48 Credits
Contact Us

Is a walking club right for your school?

Looking for Act 48 Credit?

Helmet Fitting with Mr. Cy

Kids Love Helmets

Theme: Bicycling Takes me places

2011 Poster Contest Winning Design

Quick Links