It’s back to school time! Take advantage of the ”Fresh Start Effect” to get your Safe Routes to School program soaring this year.

The first day of school is near! 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 Safe Routes to School program soaring this year. “Fresh start effect” is a phenomenon where we get a burst of motivation to start new habits when we begin something new. Now is the time to capitalize on the fresh start effect!

1. Transportation mailings – families are receiving their school transportation information in the mail and figuring out their plans for the new year. Work with school transportation directors to send out safe routes maps, safety tips and encouragement materials for children in the walk/bike boundary.
2. 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, is quicker for parents, and allows more students to participate in Safe Routes efforts for health and academic improvement. This can also reduce congestion if more parents are still driving with school bus driver shortages.
3. First school newsletter – encourage school staff to develop and include Safe Routes maps for their school, safety tips, and encouragement for walking and biking in school newsletters. This includes parents participating in remote drop offs to reduce congestion around schools and give their children some extra steps.
4. Walking School Buses – work with Parent Teacher Organizations or principals 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 it. Even just one day a week is a great way to start.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Upcoming grant opportunities

Stayed tuned to this newsletter as there are many upcoming grant solicitations for Safe Routes this October.

SRTS funding opportunities:

• Planning assistance solicitation to help you develop a SRTS Plan.
• Boost non-Infrastructure solicitation helps with any plan implementation needs from walking school buses, bike fleets to bike racks or crossing guard supplies.
• Infrastructure solicitations:
  • Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) solicitation for federal infrastructure funding for Greater Minnesota communities. (requires 20 percent match)
  • Active Transportation Program

In the news:

• 188-mile-long U.S. Bike Route 20 has its new name
• Keewatin Police Bike Safety Program receives $2,500 Grant from Nashwauk Area Community Fund
• MnDOT working with Bemidji on pedestrian safety with temporary island
• MnDOT seeks feedback from people walking and driving in Cass Lake
• A new look is coming to downtown Willmar
• 50 cyclists hit the trail in first-of-its-kind event in Pine River
• Patriot Avenue design in Pequot Lakes tests traffic flow, pedestrian safety, more parking

Join the Safe Routes National List Serve

There is a Safe Routes National Partnership list serve to ask questions and learn about work from across the country. You can either view the history of discussion in the google group or as emails come in.

If you have a Google account, you can join through this link. If not, email Brittany at brittany@saferoutespartnership.org and she can add you.

Upcoming events:

Sept. 1, 10-11 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 and received log in information please email dot@state.mn.us
• View past recordings and slides

Oct. 12, 2022 – Walk to School Day

Feb. 1, 2023 – Winter Walk to School Day

May 3, 2023 - Bike to School Day  

Resources

Order free MN Bike Maps and MN Bicycle Handbooks for your organization’s events!

Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum, bike fleet trailer request and future training opportunitiesClick to edit this placeholder text.

More about MnSRTS

Visit: http://www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org

Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool/

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