Page 1
Issue
28
Page 2
Page 3
Printable Copy
Michigan’s
r
e
t
t
e
l
s
E-New
April-May, 2010
In This Issue:
Safe Routes to School Funding Update
Safe Routes to School Award Announcement
Make Trax CD Materials Now Available
SR2S Disabilities RFP Now Available
SR2S Resource for Law Enforcement Officers
Keeping Walking Routes Safe in Osborn
For More Information Contact:
Rosie Stern
Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 27187
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 908-3828
Fax: (517) 347-8145
rstern@michiganfitness.org
New Resource: Every Step Counts
Lessons Learned from Lincoln Elementary
Walk and Roll to School Day 2010
Printable Copy
Dear Safe Routes to School Program Coordinators and Friends,
Here’s what’s crossed Michigan’s Safe Routes to School news desk lately!
SR2S Federal Funding Update
As of March 2010 the Federal Safe Routes to School program was continued by Congress through December 31,
2010. Please visit www.saferoutesmichigan.org for ongoing updates. Keep in mind that many strategies included in
the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Handbook, including promoting Walk to School Day and developing walking
school busses, have low or no associated cost. We encourage your school community to make such programs a
cornerstone of your SR2S action plan.
Safe Routes to School Award Announcement
Six Michigan schools in five counties were awarded more than $1.3 million in federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
funding for safety improvements and education programs in the March, 2010 funding announcement, available at
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot. "MDOT is pleased to partner with the Michigan Fitness Foundation on educational
activities and infrastructure improvements that will encourage students to travel safely between home and school
and contribute to more active lifestyles" said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. Congratulations to the
following award recipient schools:
North Elementary School, Iron Mountain
Traverse City West Middle School, Traverse City
Ezra Eby Elementary School, Napoleon
Napoleon Middle School, Napoleon
Holmes Elementary School, Spring Lake
Noble Elementary School, Detroit
Make Trax CD Materials Now Available
Holmes Elementary School, Spring Lake
Noble Elementary School, Detroit
Make Trax CD Materials Now Available
Make Trax is the youth voice of Safe Routes to School in Michigan. In previous issues of the SR2S Enewsletter you learned that Make Trax is an 8-lesson research project. The Make Trax curriculum CD is now
available to assist schools with Make Trax classroom or after-school activities. Order a Make Trax CD or
access the materials online at http://saferoutesmichigan.org/maketrax.htm. Join the Make Trax Network to
receive periodic updates about activities, training, and other Make Trax opportunities. To be added to the
network call Rosie Stern at (517) 908-3828, or email Rosie at rstern@michiganfitness.org. Type REGISTER
and your name in the subject heading and you will be added to the list.
SR2S Disabilities RFP Now Available
The Michigan Fitness Foundation is seeking applicants for the SR2S for Students with Disabilities initiative.
The initiative strives to better understand the needs of, and develop methods and practices to best meet the
challenges facing students with disabilities who participate in SR2S. A total of $24,000 is available to fund 1-3
proposals for implementation during the 2010-11 academic school year. The Intent to Apply form must be
received by the Michigan Fitness Foundation no later than 4:30 pm on Monday, May 17, 2010 and full
proposals must be received no later than 4:30 pm.on Monday, June 7, 2010. More information is available at
http://saferoutesmichigan.org/studentswithdisabilities.htm.
New Resource: Every Step Counts
Every Step Counts is the theme of a new series of free, downloadable marketing materials focused on the benefits
of walking and bicycling to school, and motivating parents to walk with kids. The parent-focused messages are
being developed in collaboration with a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Center for Safe Routes
to School. Use these materials to reach parents in any stage of Safe Routes to School program development. The
first marketing piece in the Every Step Counts series is now available at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/
marketing_every_step_counts_materials.cfm.
SR2S Resource for Law Enforcement
The participation of law enforcement agencies in SR2S is critical and provides the opportunity for law enforcement
agencies to interact with the public and strengthen community safety programs. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new Safe Routes to School for Law Enforcement Officers website, now
available at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/lawenforcement/. The website provides tips, tools and materials to help
increase the involvement of law enforcement officers in SR2S. Share this website with your local law enforcement
agency. Website resources include:
SR2S handouts for students, parents and schools
Talking points on bicycle and pedestrian safety
Tips to address parent safety concerns
Links to related sites for resource materials
SR2S activities for children
Keeping Walking Routes Safe in Osborn
In Detroit’s Osborn community, Fleming Academy’s SR2S Program Coordinator Patrice
Lambert has drawn from a dedicated group of volunteers from the Maintaining Area Neighborhoods (MAN) Network
and Citizen’s Radio Patrol to faithfully patrol the neighborhood every morning. Check out this news story at http://
www.wxyz.com/news/story/Teenage-Girl-Fights-Off-Rapist/FO0VxUyNOUuvT13EEI37_A.cspx for an example of
how the Network and Radio Patrol are helping keep students safe in Osborn.
Lessons Learned from Lincoln Elementary School in Cadillac
Now that our first group of Safe Routes to School Grant Award Recipients have completed the federally-
www.wxyz.com/news/story/Teenage-Girl-Fights-Off-Rapist/FO0VxUyNOUuvT13EEI37_A.cspx for an example of
how the Network and Radio Patrol are helping keep students safe in Osborn.
Lessons Learned from Lincoln Elementary School in Cadillac
Now that our first group of Safe Routes to School Grant Award Recipients have completed the federallyfunded portion of the program, our Safe Routes to School team recently caught up with Principal Scott
Hanson from Lincoln Elementary to discuss some outcomes of Lincoln’s SR2S Program.
SR2S: How has SR2S helped shift the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of the students, parents and your
staff in favor of walking and biking to school?
PRINCIPAL HANSON: Based upon our surveys and observations, we found that at the beginning of the project
our students were highly motivated to walk and bike to school. We held several Walk-to-School days and
participation was high. Our Bicycle Rodeo provided a vast amount of information for our students on the
benefits of riding their bikes, as well as how to do so safely. The added police presence has made a profound
impact on local drivers to slow down around the school. Parent cooperation on being careful when picking up
and dropping off their students has also greatly improved in no small part with the help of the police department.
Unfortunately, we have not seen a sustained decrease in the number of children being driven to school by their
parents. This has been a frustration.
SR2S: What is one recommendation you would provide to schools that are implementing the SR2S
planning process?
PRINCIPAL HANSON: Schools entering into this project need to put much effort into how to sustain the
educational and encouragement components. Although we did address much of what needed to be considered,
I think we underestimated what it would take to make long-term change.
SR2S: How do you plan to continue your school’s SR2S programs, now that your award monies have
been used?
PRINCIPAL HANSON: We are looking into continuing our Walk to School Day beyond those sponsored by
SR2S. We are also hoping to make the Bicycle Rodeo an annual event in May. Discussions with the Cadillac
Police Department are being conducted to determine if we can continue with the police presence in the area
without the SR2S monies.
A General Reminder: The Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) SR2S team provides technical assistance and
support to schools undergoing all phases of the planning and post-planning process to help schools identify ways to
make their SR2S programs sustainable. We look forward to continuing to serve you!
Walk and Roll to School Day 2010!
Save the Date! International Walk and Roll to School Day will be held Wednesday, October 6, 2010. If your school is
registered for Michigan’s SR2S program, you are automatically registered to receive free resources from the
Michigan Fitness Foundation. If you have not yet registered, but would like to participate, please contact Tricia at
(800) 434-8642 or register at http://saferoutesmichigan.org/w2sd.htm today!