WHEELING TO SCHOOL. Katherine Glowacz Project Coordinator. April 24, 2012 Ontario Bike Summit

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1 WHEELING TO SCHOOL Katherine Glowacz Project Coordinator April 24, 2012 Ontario Bike Summit

2 COLLABORATION Share the Road- leading experts in bicycle policy, safety and education in Ontario Green Communities Canada- experience of delivering the Active & Safe Routes to School program (ASRTS) in Ontario and across Canada for the past 15 years.

3 WHEELING TO SCHOOL Funded by: - Ontario Healthy Communities Fund! A pilot study of barriers and benefits of cycling to school from September 2011 to June 2012! Teaches bicycle safety skills and reduces the risk of injury while increasing physical activity! 4 schools in communities in southern Ontario: Hamilton, Kitchener, St. Thomas and Woodstock

4 WHY! A focus on walking in ASRTS programs in Ontario but a set of successful cycling programs in Ottawa, BC, United States and Europe.! To enhance the positive image of cycling to school! To broaden appeal amongst educators, parents, law enforcement and local politicians

5 KEY PROJECT DELIVERABLES! Conduct surveys! Conduct walkabouts/cycle-abouts! Map the best cycle routes for families! Develop and implement training sessions for adult bike-train conductors! Implement cycle trains! Install and evaluate bicycle storage units! Hold school cycling events in the Spring of 2012

6 WHEELING TO SCHOOL! A total of over 700 students at participating schools from Grade 4-8! Results to date:! Surveys of barriers! Walkabouts and Cycleabouts created routes! Training Sessions! Bike Rack installation! Spring and fall cycling events

7 CASE STUDY: WOODSTOCK! Eastdale Public School- 65 Aileen St! South-east Woodstock! 120 students in Grade 4 to 8! Student population located in a neighbourhood catchment area. No major barriers to cross! Woodstock has not had ASRTS initiatives prior to the W2S project! Existing bicycle racks are not used due to location and age.

8 CASE STUDY: HAMILTON! St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School- 88 McCauley St East! North End Neighbourhood in Hamilton! 180 students from Grade 4-8 (9 classes)! School is continuing work from STP Project in year! New bike racks are enclosed by fencing and face staff room and classroom.! North end has a number of one way streets that are barriers to creating routes for children

9 SURVEY RESULTS I would allow my child to cycle if... I would allow my child to cycle if Woodstock- Eastdale Hamilton- St. Lawrence

10 STUDENT NEEDS IN HAMILTON I have access to: Bicycle Helmet Lock Lights Riding in a group I'd be interested in... Recognition for riding bike Bike events at school Learn how to take care of bike

11 FEATURES What features of a school bike route would you like to see Eastdale- Woodstock Group Riding Designated bicycle Lane Speed Reduction School Cycling Route Other What features of a school cycle route would you like to see St. Lawrence- Hamilton Group Riding Designated bicycle Lane Speed Reduction School Cycling Route

12 STUDENT CATCHMENT AREA Eastdale- Woodstock

13 CYCLE-ABOUT! During the cycle-about we look at:! Surface! Share the Road potential! Intersections! Drivers! Overall ease of route! Participants:! Students, teachers, VP, Principal! Parents! Public Health nurse(s)! School Board dignitaries! City Councillors! Municipal Planning staff

14 POW H AVE KIPLING RESULT- A BIKE TO SCHOOL ROUTE!! A designated Bike to School route utilizes road facilities and multi- use trails that student and parents can bike along to/from school. These routes have been:!! assessed as the most appropriate for cycling based on the traffic and road conditions. allow you to cross at designated and safe intersections. The route may be signed to designated route in the future but currently a larger volume of bikes and cyclists will further make others aware that this is a designated route. ST DUFFERIN ST VE S CRONYN ST T ANNE ST MAPLE AVE ALICE ST MAUD ST ISABEL ST BEE ST AILEEN DR HARFORD ST k " Eastdale Park ELMWOOD ELMWOOD PL EASTDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL Sudworth Park CRES KEATS DR ARN VE ST " CROSS PL FRIZELLE DR Homer Brown Park PAVEY ST BEE ST BIGHAM TOTTEN PL ASHTON CRT CRES PEERS PL LINCOLN WINSTON PL SU NSET BLVD DR SHORT AVE CHAUCER PL TENNYS ON ST BROWNING PL CRES " " PARKINSON RD

15 WOODSTOCK HIGHLIGHTS! Most diverse membership on W2S committee- lots of excitement in the community! Gr 4-8 students had in-class safety training with a bike patrol Police officer and PH nurse! Utilized community partnerships:! Open Sky Bike Co-op will provide bike tune-ups at bike rodeo! Maglin Site Furniture- a local bike rack manufacturer donated bike racks! Local Rogers Media outlet is located at the main street. School leveraged local story for a 4 part series promoting cycling.

16 HAMILTON HIGHLIGHTS! Student Engagement Model- committee is made up of Grade 4-7 students, teacher and a Public Health nurse.! Students focus on promotion, recognition for riders and helping out at the bike fun day! Community Partnerships:! New Hope Bike Co-operative to provide training and bike tune-up for students.

17 SPRING EVENTS! Bike Rodeos- 3 out of 4 schools will have a bike rodeo in May.! Rodeos will have cycling skills, traffic safety skills, bike tune-ups, helmet fitting, games and prizes! Mitchell Hepburn P.S in St. Thomas had 60 cyclists on their first Wheeling Wednesday! This Thursday students are getting bike skills training.! Sheppard P.S. in Kitchener is raising money for a paved trail for cyclists that runs parallel to parking lot entrance

18 LESSONS LEARNED! Barriers and working solutions:! Lack and cost of cycling instructors in municipalities: St. Thomas, Woodstock and Kitchener- partner communities together! Funding for needs of students such as locks, bells etc. we have been working with MEC! Parent involvement- promotion,promotion, promotion! Infrastructure! Kitchener- part of route is on sidewalk and students are encouraged to walk bikes! Hamilton- current one way street only allowed this route to be designated a walking route (under construction this summer to 2-way)- work with City of Hamilton

19 QUESTIONS?! Thank you Katherine Glowacz Wheeling to School Project Facilitator