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News / Blog Education News Boltage Program Increases School Biking and Walking

Boltage Program Increases School Biking and Walking

Thursday, 01 December 2011

Doss-Boltage-bikes-rack-web

On October 21,2011, Doss Elementary in Austin, Texas, kicked off their Boltage Program, a Kid Commute program using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and sociology to influence a behavior change: more kids walking and biking to school.  Doss was the 5th Boltage program implemented in Austin area schools in the last year and a half. It is also one of only five Boltage programs in the state of Texas and one of the 40 active Boltage schools in the US, and Canada. In Austin: Patsy Summer Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Bryker Wood Elementary, and Martin Middle School have all sustained their programs since their Boltage launches.  

Local advocacy organizations came together along with BikeTexas to teach kids Bike Safety in an assembly. BikeTexas, Austin Cycling association, The City of Austin Safe Kids Program, and the Department of Health and Human Services Safe Routes Program managers all came together with Bicycle Sport Shop and Trek Bicycles to make these programs a huge success.
 Helmets were checked for improved fit, providing replacements if necessary. The students then proceeded to a Bike Rodeo course, and practiced their riding skills.  Over 100 students biked to school for the Boltage Kick-off. There were smiling faces everywhere, as kids rode through various courses, designed with an emphasis on safety skills, and fun.

Doss Elementary is unique in that the City of Austin anticipated a large number of kids riding their bikes to school with Boltage coming in, so they came and put in curb cuts in the sidewalks, bike lanes, signage for no parking in bike lanes, and provided additional crossing guards BEFORE the program launched!  Doss definitely delivered for the “Build it and they will come” theorists.  Today there are over 365 kids riding and walking to Doss Elementary who previously were driven there.  
Doss principal Janna Griffin was handed a challenge this year with a school already  300 students over capacity, with limited parking, and heavy traffic surrounding the  school.  This program has made a significant improvement in traffic flow around the school.  Statistics show, traffic accidents and fatalities decrease as pedestrian, and cycling transportation increases.  Principal Griffin said, “I can’t thank the Boltage program enough for making such a difference for the children, their families, the community, and the schools.  Parents are lingering around the schools, and there is just a positive energy surrounding these kids as they ride to school”!  Teachers are reporting that their Boltage kids come to school alert kids ready to learn.  Besides the obvious benefits: reduction in traffic, gasoline savings, reduction in the carbon footprint, healthier and more active kids, we’ve found Boltage to just make kids happy!

For information on this effective program contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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