Six back to school tips to promote Safe Routes
It’s back to school time, take advantage of the ‘Fresh Start Effect’ to get your SRTS program soaring this year. Fresh start effect is a phenomenon where we get a burst of motivation to start new habits each time we begin something new. Now is the time to capitalize on the fresh start effect!
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Transportation mailings – families are receiving their school transportation information in the mail. Work with school transportation directors to send out Safe Routes maps, safety tips, and encouragement materials for children in the walk/bike boundary.
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Establish a remote drop off location – work with the school to set up a remote drop off location. This helps children get an extra 10 minutes of physical activity, it is quicker for parents to drop off and allows more students to participate in Safe Routes efforts for health and academic improvement.
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First school newsletter – encourage school staff to include Safe Routes maps for their school, safety tips, and encouragement for walking and biking in school newsletters. Include parents participating in remote drop offs to reduce congestion around schools and give their children some extra steps.
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Walking school bus – work with PTO or principal to identify and establish walking school buses to start the year off. This will create a healthy routine to be used throughout the year as parents integrate a walking school bus into their schedules. Even just one day a week is a great way to start!
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Meet the teacher & back to school events – encourage physical education teachers to promote their Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum and have a table promoting walking and biking to school, safety tips and safe routes maps for parents and students to take home and make their plan.
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Crossing guard and school patrol training – the start of the school year means training your adult crossing guards and student school patrol leaders to help walkers and bikers cross busy streets. MnDOT has free, online training that you can implement or allow individuals to train on their schedules and obtain completion certificates for your records.
Minnesota hands-free law goes into effect Aug. 1
 Minnesota’s new hands-free law will make it safer for children walking and bicycling this fall by reducing distracted driving which contributes to one in five crashes statewide. Consider sharing information about the new law with your school, community and parents.
What’s the law?
- The new law allows a driver to use their cell phone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only through voice commands or single touch activation. Remember, hands-free is not necessarily distraction free.
- You may not hold your phone in your hand.
- The first ticket is $50 plus court fees, the second and later tickets are $275 each plus court fees.
Find fact sheets and other resources at HandsFreeMN.org
Catalyst Funding Opportunity
The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is excited to announce a second round of Catalyst Funding, designed to ignite innovation and advance health equity.
The Catalyst Funding Initiative is designed to support the implementation of creative solutions to health inequities and jump-start community initiatives. Blue Cross wants to fund projects between $5,000 and $25,000 that lead to sustainable community health changes related to the Center for Prevention’s core issue areas: increasing access to physical activity, increasing access to healthy eating and decreasing commercial tobacco use. Learn more about funding and apply.
Upcoming Events
August 8, 10-11:00 a.m. – MN SRTS Network Call
Share and learn with whose working on SRTS from across Minnesota.
To join the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Network, email center.communications@bluecrossmn.com
August 21, 11:30-12:30 p.m. – Bike Walk Leadership Network
WEBINAR: "Safe Routes to School Funding in Minnesota" with guests Dave Cowan of MnDOT and Luke Ewald of Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services, hosted by BikeMN.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook!facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool
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