The BikeTexas Safe Routes to Schools program is on target to meet its goals for the current school year. Staff has trained teachers, conducted traffic counts and environmental audits and created partnerships with PTAs, community groups and civic officials in every grant-designated region of north Texas.

Baseline data must be gathered before the program can be fully implemented. Local outreach coordinators (LOCs) in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Wichita Falls conducted whole school traffic counts and surveyed fourth and fifth grade students at a total of 12 schools on their travel mode that day. Staff also recorded weather and light conditions as these are factors which affect the ability to walk and bike. The same information will be collected at the end of the year, and the entire process repeated in the 2006-07 school year. Texas Bicycle Coalition’s evaluation director will then process the data to determine the program’s impact.

The environmental audit is a detailed evaluation and mapping exercise that tells staff what the hazards and amenities are in the neighborhood adjacent to the school. The walkability/bikability of the area around a school will affect the success of the program and influence the program’s focus. In neighborhoods where infrastructure is needed or other fixes (timing on traffic lights changed, crossing guards placed, bushes trimmed, etc.) are required, staff will also be able to track the program’s impact by comparing these audits and maps to those staff will conduct at the end of the current school year and again in 2007.

BikeTexas Safe Routes to School staff also works to train teachers to implement the Texas SuperCyclist Curriculum for fourth and fifth graders. Staff members have trained teachers and community volunteers in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Wichita Falls. Fort Worth has hosted two well-attended trainings since Safe Routes was launched, and the Coalition is working with physical education curriculum coordinators in these and other cities to schedule future trainings. After the first of the year, LOCs will contact trained teachers to offer their support, encouraging teachers to implement the lessons.

The LOCs have made presentations and formed partnerships with a broad range of school and community groups such as PTA/PTOs, district safety committees, neighborhood associations (which help in schools without a PTA), Boy and Girl Scouts, local safe kids coalitions, professional and collegiate athletic teams, park and recreation departments, mayor’s offices, transportation planners and engineers, bike shops, bike clubs and other businesses and many more groups and individuals. Safe Routes is being well received in every program area and many other communities are expressing interest in becoming involved.

The LOCs are focusing on the PTA/PTO at 10 schools each, recruiting volunteer team leaders who will take the lead on encouragement events such as Walk and Roll to School Day. The school principal, secretary, safety officers and nurses are natural allies and will be enlisted as well. Community groups are all excited to participate and officials are being supportive, committing to work with program staff.

This early success of the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program will ensure the next phase of outreach and the implementation of education and encouragement will happen on schedule as well. The LOCs have worked extremely hard and their creativity, problem solving skills and sheer determination have paid off.