Maine Safe Routes to School Newsletter | June 2018 Newsletter
Bike & Walk to School Followup
This year's  Bike to School Day  broke another record with over 3,200 registered events nationwide! Year after year, you and others who care about biking and children use your passion to bring your communities together. The amazing participation this year shows the growing interest in biking and walking with schools in all 50 states and DC officially registered. 

Here are some of Maine's participants:
  • Auburn, Walton School
  • Baileyville, Woodland ES
  • Bangor, Abraham Lincoln School - Daily Walking School Bus
  • Bangor, Downeast School - Daily Walking School Bus
  • Bangor, Vine Street School - Daily Walking School Bus
  • Camden, Camden Rockport MS
  • Cape Elizabeth, Pond Cove School
  • Kittery, Shapleigh School
  • Gray, Fiddlehead School of Arts & Science
  • Gray, Gray-New Gloucester HS
  • Gray, Gray-New Gloucester MS
  • Gray, Russell School
  • Lewiston, Farwell School - Daily Walking School Bus
  • Lewiston, Geiger Elementary
  • Lincoln, Ella P. Burr
  • Portland, East End Community School - Daily Walking School Bus
  • Portland, Lincoln MS 
  • Scarborough, Pleasant Hill School
  • Kittery, Shapleigh School
  • South Portland, Memorial MS 
  • Topsham, Woodside ED
  • Waterville, Albert S Hall School
  • York, Coastal Ridge ES 
  • York, Village ES 
  • York Middle School
We rounded out Bike Month strong and look forward to a stellar Walk to School Day in the fall - mark your calendars for October 10. Congratulations and thank you!
Bike Trains - Choo Choo!!
As more and more people are bicycling in the United States, a bike train can be a strong part of a larger Safe Routes to School program.  A bike train is a fun and easy way for kids to safely get physical activity on the way to or from school. 

This new toolkit, The Wheels on the Bike Go Round and Round: How to Get a Bike Train Rolling at Your School, is designed to help parents, educators, and community members plan and organize a bike train using adult volunteers as leaders. Created with support from the California Department of Public Health, this step-by-step guide outlines how to plan and implement a bike train for your school, and includes tools, tips, and resources for a fast and easy start.

If you want to introduce bike trains to school staff, administration, and parents, use the Get Rolling with a Bike Train Program handout.

And remember that you can always contact us to hash out ideas and design your program! Email 
2018 State Report Cards

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the Y have released  Making Strides: 2018 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities , a report that helps state leaders and decision makers prioritize transportation investments, resources, and policies that support walkable communities.

Each state was evaluated using 27 indicators, with several new indicators including: Adopted a bicycle, pedestrian, or active transportation plan; Supports walking, bicycling & physical activity in school design guidelines; and Funds Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure projects. These indicators were then applied across four strategic areas:
  • Complete Streets and Active Transportation
  • Safe Routes to School and Active Transportation Funding
  • Active Neighborhoods and Schools
  • State Physical Activity Planning
Maine gained 17 points since the last report in 2016, going from a score of 101/200 to 118/200.  Read the full report here.
Conduct a walking audit this summer

Walk audits can be informal and casual, or can include city council members, traffic engineers, and detailed forms.   This toolkit includes the tools to hold your own walk audit that will help you achieve the goals of your community.

Walk audits are a great tool in creating communities where residents can participate in making their vision of healthy, safe, walkable streets real. In a walk audit, community members go for a walk together, noting what makes their streets feel comfortable for walking and what's missing.
We're here to help you strategize, answer questions, and support your community as you make plans for walk and bike activities this school year!
 
The Maine Safe Routes to School Team

In This Edition


Darcy Whittemore
Education Program Manager
207-956-6537
darcy@bikemaine.org

Erik daSilva
Education Program Coordinator 
207-956-6539

Shannon Belt
Education & Outreach Coordinator (Greater Portland)
207-956-6528
 
Patrick Adams
MaineDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager
207-624-3311

Resources, Funding, & Timely Opportunities

Riding for Focus Grant
Support your middle school with everything needed to get students on bikes and riding.
Rolling Deadline
Will fund bicycle infrastructure and  advocacy projects.
LOI by July 23

This program provides a roadmap, hands-on assistance and recognition for states, communities, universities and businesses. 

Bicycle Friendly Community

August 9

Bicycle Friendly University
August 30
Bicycle Friendly Business
 

October 10


Upcoming Trainings

July 18, 9am
The course will give you the tools to help your friends, family, students, co-workers, and community ride and walk more safely.

What We're Reading

Teach your students to travel safely!  
The Maine SRTS Program  offers free bicycle & pedestrian safety education to schools, rec programs, and other youth organizations. The training covers 8 key points for young pedestrians and bicycle drivers. Adult education is also available.  
Contact Erik daSilva with questions.