tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31139098562407880972024-03-13T19:03:40.122-07:00Walkable Rodgers ForgeSafe Routes to SchoolUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-23214431238506779322013-10-03T19:28:00.002-07:002013-10-03T19:28:35.076-07:00Walking School Buses starting up for the 2013-2014 School Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TScJNDnIN_40_9MoI79HxU2HuGzWRhyphenhyphenRsn8y8ehqa1S2Y2RVvYmoiPA99Ro0Oy8lr06vNAsdrKciMOSmMEYCEAaC5-m8DKcvjx6qkzoWbXUcQocAWTuQmTlv__HX6UyDFncalfGnpKWp/s1600/WSB+with+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TScJNDnIN_40_9MoI79HxU2HuGzWRhyphenhyphenRsn8y8ehqa1S2Y2RVvYmoiPA99Ro0Oy8lr06vNAsdrKciMOSmMEYCEAaC5-m8DKcvjx6qkzoWbXUcQocAWTuQmTlv__HX6UyDFncalfGnpKWp/s320/WSB+with+feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The <b>WALKING SCHOOL BUS</b> rolls again next week on Wednesday, Oct. 9, which happens to be International Walk To School Day!</div>
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Walking School Buses are adult-supervised groups of children walking along fixed routes, ending at Rodgers Forge Elementary <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2114337512" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Wednesday</span></span> mornings. </div>
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To join in, simply find the route on the map below that is closest to your home. The “bus” starts at the outermost point on the route at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2114337513" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:30 a.m.</span></span> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2114337514" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:40</span></span> at Stanmore and Lanark), reaching school at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2114337515" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:45</span></span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnZmy8hyctCIe8tG4iXW3Y9fkyM4IhNxAI7rT_J-FNOBENnRA35YskGZTjdAsrjqBhdu8YAFlz7MEnIdoFoiXhFA8jr1hTtQOg6QXqdTvu62IPF_QLEUswoiYXsZock_FBUHK-yACkBbL/s1600/RFES+SRTS+Walking+School+Bus+Map+spring+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnZmy8hyctCIe8tG4iXW3Y9fkyM4IhNxAI7rT_J-FNOBENnRA35YskGZTjdAsrjqBhdu8YAFlz7MEnIdoFoiXhFA8jr1hTtQOg6QXqdTvu62IPF_QLEUswoiYXsZock_FBUHK-yACkBbL/s640/RFES+SRTS+Walking+School+Bus+Map+spring+2013.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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It's good exercise, saves gas and visibly encourages motorists instead to walk their children to school. Plus, it builds community, and it's fun.</div>
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Walking School Buses run every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2114337516" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday</span></span>.</div>
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“Bus Drivers” are your friends and neighbors who take turns once or twice a month. Safety flags and posters make the group more visible to vehicles. </div>
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For more information or to sign up, e-mail to <a href="mailto:rodgersforgebus@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">rodgersforgebus@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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It may not work for you to “drive the bus.” But you can always send your child along on Walking Wednesdays.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get on the bus!</b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-82343861131873680612013-03-02T14:49:00.001-08:002013-03-02T14:51:01.389-08:00The WALKING SCHOOL BUS STARTS on WEDNESDAY!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">Get on the bus!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Walking School Buses are adult-supervised groups of children walking along fixed routes, ending at Rodgers Forge Elementary on Wednesday mornings. (Find a route with the map on back.) The “bus” starts at the outermost point on the route at 8:30 a.m. and arrives at school at 8:45.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Walking School Buses will run March 6 and 20.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Starting after spring break in April,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">the “bus” will run every Wednesday</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">for the rest of the school year.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">“Bus Drivers” are your friends and neighbors who take turns one or two times a month. They will have safety flags and posters to make the group more visible to vehicles. For more information or to sign up,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">contact Will Morton at <a href="tel:410-377-2967" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+14103772967">410-377-2967</a> or <a href="mailto:willmortoniv@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">willmortoniv@gmail.com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">It may not work for you to “drive the bus.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">But you can always send your child along on <b>Walking Wednesdays</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Below is the map of walking bus routes:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhLCd5uG7wO3zbu_gXtvbTvBfyjjlaoEd4iRnofKZYGDGTHGIeKbEMAr-VESQ_EW9XwHRXBh00HXtMPeLl6W5POXu2wdFTmcvtZmMtM8rw6nltBe1N3gYVE3vGnY2Ug_iU4F-7_d07T77/s1600/RFES+SRTS+Walking+School+Bus+Map+spring+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhLCd5uG7wO3zbu_gXtvbTvBfyjjlaoEd4iRnofKZYGDGTHGIeKbEMAr-VESQ_EW9XwHRXBh00HXtMPeLl6W5POXu2wdFTmcvtZmMtM8rw6nltBe1N3gYVE3vGnY2Ug_iU4F-7_d07T77/s640/RFES+SRTS+Walking+School+Bus+Map+spring+2013.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-65542363248658734212013-02-25T11:41:00.004-08:002013-02-25T11:41:43.106-08:00Walking School Bus "Drivers" Needed<br />
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Hello, friends and neighbors,</div>
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The Safe Routes to School Committee is working to get "walking school buses" going on a regular basis in Rodgers Forge. You might remember seeing this on the first Wednesday last October where adults shepherded groups of kiddos along proscribed routes. The idea is to encourage walking to school by having big visible groups walking on a regular basis. </div>
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Would you consider being a walking school bus "driver" once or twice a month? </div>
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In March, we aim to have walking school buses on the first and third Wednesdays (2/6, 2/20). Then after spring break, the plan calls for walking school buses every Wednesday (starting 4/10) through the end of the year (6/12). The job would entail shepherding kiddos along the routes and delivering them to school, like so many of you already do anyway.</div>
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The idea would be that you start at the end of the route, which might involve a little backtracking from your house. </div>
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Please direct related questions to Will Morton at willmortoniv (at) gmail (dot) com or <a href="tel:410-377-2967" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+14103772967">410-377-2967</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-67180458918611702202012-09-28T12:34:00.004-07:002012-09-28T12:34:40.463-07:00Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 3rd <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Wednesday, October 3th is </span><a href="http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/">International Walk to School Day</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">, an annual event that seeks to encourage more walking to school. The Rodgers Forge Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Committee has organized a RFES Walk to School Day on the morning of October 3rd to encourage this fun, healthy activity for RFES kids and families. Rodgers Forge is a ready-made community for walking and virtually all Rodgers Forge households are within a short, pleasant walk of our neighborhood school.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Now, lots of kids already walk to RFES, but many don't. We know that parents' work schedules are often an obstacle to walking their kids to school, or that many parents are uncomfortable with letting their children walk to school without adult supervision. These are common issues and completely understandable, yet there are many important benefits to our children and to our community in having kids walk to school (learn more about the benefits of walking to school at the bottom of this article). Helping to overcome these obstacles is what this community-led initiative is all about.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Enter The Walking School Bus</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In order to provide the opportunity for kids who are typically driven to school to experience the benefits and joys of walking , we're organizing </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"walking school buses"</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> for Walk To School Day on the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><u>morning</u></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> of Wednesday, October 3rd. Walking school buses are groups of school children walking together along designated routes, accompanied by parents who volunteer as chaperons - in essence, the walking school bus "drivers." Even kids and parents who already walk, but who want to join in the fun are welcome to walk with the groups! Here's a 3-minute video about walking school buses:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7GpC9km8sY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, how does it work?</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The concept is actually pretty straightforward. Walking school buses are enabled by parent volunteers to act as chaperons and "drive" each of the walking school buses. There are typically 2 or 3 parents - one at the front, one at the back, and one on the side if needed - for each walking school bus to accompany their respective group. The group walks along a designated route through the neighborhood to school, picking up kids along the way, just like a real school bus.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1dFxctSauqI6zHj_93r2emKJjcwAQu5C3kVnVyj0GbGiiJG3cMaaabqMjk-tZvkoq_9LusXId4qYRYGNoW60bmD4gZcDM9AdwER-rt6jlKd8C5JWJwr_YRtgL5sTPuFQOYSuJAdOFx6R/s1600/walking+school+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1dFxctSauqI6zHj_93r2emKJjcwAQu5C3kVnVyj0GbGiiJG3cMaaabqMjk-tZvkoq_9LusXId4qYRYGNoW60bmD4gZcDM9AdwER-rt6jlKd8C5JWJwr_YRtgL5sTPuFQOYSuJAdOFx6R/s400/walking+school+bus.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">A walking school bus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">We have created six walking school bus routes throughout Rodgers Forge as shown on the map below. We need your help in making it happen, so please consider volunteering!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8iUwltUWu0D0XZKbSOegoBgzKKqhVi-YAGR4DgppeWwRA_IX1MiSUEclofLvVg-ZX0Dy8ULQH8NF4x9D02opU4OzqImPgeUlsYPKKBp5YMntYIVDjDn1K7IhnzBOSJjgvaRElv2JeNNl/s1600/RFES+walking+school+bus+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8iUwltUWu0D0XZKbSOegoBgzKKqhVi-YAGR4DgppeWwRA_IX1MiSUEclofLvVg-ZX0Dy8ULQH8NF4x9D02opU4OzqImPgeUlsYPKKBp5YMntYIVDjDn1K7IhnzBOSJjgvaRElv2JeNNl/s640/RFES+walking+school+bus+map.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Each of the colored lines represents a different walking school bus route, and the yellow dots represent the location of a "corner captain." Corner captains are additional volunteers who help increase the visibility of pedestrian activity in the neighborhood and help with crossings.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How can I volunteer as a Walking School Bus chaperon or corner captain?</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If you would like to volunteer as a walking school bus chaperon or a corner captain, you can do so by sending</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> an e-mail ASAP with your name, address, and phone number to SRTS committee vice-chair Michael Bayer at </span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">michael.bayer</span><wbr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">@erm.com.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If you send an e-mail, please indicate which color route you would like to chaperon or at what corner you would like to stand. Volunteers will be contacted prior to October 3rd to receive or confirm assignments.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Walking school buses will start from their point of origins at 8:30 AM and proceed to RFES along their designated routes and arrive at the school by 8:45.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How can my child participate?</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If you would like for your child or children to participate in the walking school bus, please wait with them at a point along the route - either at the sidewalk in front of your house or the nearest street corner - for the walking school bus group to arrive before leaving your child. Groups will start out at 8:30 AM so please be outside early enough so that your child doesn't "miss the bus!" Remember, </span><u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>the walking school buses are only happening on the morning of Walk to School Day, and NOT in the afternoon.</b></u><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Participation is, of course, purely voluntary and no registration is required, however if you would like your child to participate, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we would appreciate it if you would <a href="mailto:stusirota@verizon.net" style="color: #771000; text-decoration: none;">send us an email to the aforementioned e-mail address</a> with the number and age of children who will be walking, your address, and the COLOR route of the walking school bus your child will walk with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">for our planning purposes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What else is going on during the event?</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In addition to the walking school buses, the Baltimore County Police Department will have uniformed officers in the vicinity of RFES on Walk to School Day and will be talking to students about walk safety as they arrive at the school.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So just what are the benefits of walking to school, anyway?</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Consider the following:</span></b></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking is great exercise</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for you and your child</span></span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>.</b> If done regularly, even for 10 to 15 minutes, it can improve your health, your circulation and your mental concentration. And it can help you and your kid stay in shape and keep extra pounds off.</span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Increased levels of daily physical activity for children:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style: disc; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints. </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Helps control weight, build lean muscle and reduce fat.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Improves sense of self-image and autonomy.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fosters healthy social and emotional development.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Improves academic performance and alertness.</span></li>
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<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking improves personal safety and community cohesion.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By walking, your child will</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> learn about safety in the street and how to navigate traffic</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. Your child will also get to know the surroundings and the neighborhood better. By having more kids walking, drivers become more accustomed to pedestrian activity and tend to drive more cautiously. Also, having more pedestrian activity in the neighborhood increases “eyes on the street” and reduces the likelihood of crime.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking kids to school also fosters friendlier neighborhoods as kids and parents interact with one another and socialize on a daily basis.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking children to school helps families spend more quality time together.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Our lives are so hectic, and many of us wish we could just "stop and smell the roses," especially with our kids. Your daily walk to and from school can be </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a good time to talk with your child</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> and share experiences about their day and the world around them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #efefef;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px 0.0001pt; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking helps reduce traffic congestion.</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b>More walkers means fewer cars traveling through the neighborhood. Fewer cars means less congestion in the pick-up and drop-off points at the school and further improves safety for pedestrians and drivers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Walking to school also i</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ncreases the likelihood that children and adults will choose to walk and bike for other short distance trips.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking is better for the environment and the air our children breathe.</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b>Reducing the number of</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> vehicular pick-up and drop-offs each day can have a dramatic impact on improving the quality of air around the school.</span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Vehicle emissions are the leading cause of childhood asthma. Also, if a family chooses to walk to school (rather than drive a personal vehicle) they can reduce their carbon footprint by .164 metric tons annually. If half of the students at an average size elementary school choose to walk to school their impact could be a savings of over 39 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year. This is the equivalent of the carbon-removing abilities of 1000 trees. Leaving the car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwWzo-gJeGyiB2Tx_-ZCfD7sTkM33OpKtv5fMLwP2WM9nlDSaC8FHTzRt6wEfLyVMVCsVaYPZq4e7FuXjyaJMnpxicoJDF3rEU3tTdN4mf08ajn1zpURksuXDjkKL__fafmadf9yVQBDF/s1600/walking+school+bus+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771000; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwWzo-gJeGyiB2Tx_-ZCfD7sTkM33OpKtv5fMLwP2WM9nlDSaC8FHTzRt6wEfLyVMVCsVaYPZq4e7FuXjyaJMnpxicoJDF3rEU3tTdN4mf08ajn1zpURksuXDjkKL__fafmadf9yVQBDF/s400/walking+school+bus+picture.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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Your ideas and comments are welcome. We hope to see you walking on October 3rd!</span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-33138644080883557632012-05-04T10:48:00.005-07:002012-05-04T21:30:21.434-07:00Bike Rodgers Forge!May is a big month for biking and SRTS in Rodgers Forge. Here's what happening:<br />
<img alt="biking photo" src="http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/sites/default/files/home-map_1.png" />
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<b>1. Bike to School Day: Wednesday, May 9th!</b><br />
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Wednesday, May 9th is the first annual <a href="http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/">National Bike to School Day</a>. The Rodgers Forge Safe Routes to School Committee is organizing a group bicycle ride for RFES kids accompanied by their parents to and from school that day. We will assemble and start at the intersection of <b>Overbrook Road and Pinehurst Road at 8:30 AM.</b><br />
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We will ride down Pinehurst to the alley behind Dumbarton Road to Glen Argyle and then cross Dumbarton on to the school grounds. The ride will be at a leisurely pace and last about 5 minutes, and will be a special treat for the kids. We ask that anyone wishing to participate follow these guidelines:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Only children who have at least a basic level of competency with riding on two wheels in the street and within groups should participate.</li>
<li>Children from each household should be accompanied by a parent or guardian riding their own bike or on a tandem.</li>
<li>All children must wear a helmet by law, and all adults should also wear helmets.</li>
</ul>
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Please RSVP to stusirota@gmail.com if you would like to participate so we can plan accordingly.<br />
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We are also seeking volunteer parents or residents stationed along the route on foot who can help hold traffic briefly at intersections along Pinehurst and/or take pictures of the group as they ride by. Please RSVP if you can help in this regard as well.<br />
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We have requested Baltimore County Police presence to provide additional traffic control at the school to minimize congestion. If you are not participating in the bike ride, please consider walking your child to school on Wednesday. Or, if you must drive, please try to park on a side street rather than dropping off in front of the school. It makes a huge difference in creating a more pedestrian and bike friendly environment in front of the school when there are fewer cars dropping off and picking up! <b>Most importantly, if you are driving that day, please drive especially slowly and cautiously looking for cyclists.</b><br />
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A bike rack is available at the school near the kindergarten entrance. If the rack becomes full and there is no space available to lock up your bike, arrangements have been made to store bikes securely inside the school rec room for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB466qFdBVfSh5TePsTYpus_wbwiW7WLIfxzFAZXzvagRJi8XHnJbZOYPWAncawbbuf3uI631IdgBWu4XMyUiByhxiWscrTQUefahTzRp1RSCUXkA1NEPYZLsf6GKXdY9RB86BJc2qP_P8/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB466qFdBVfSh5TePsTYpus_wbwiW7WLIfxzFAZXzvagRJi8XHnJbZOYPWAncawbbuf3uI631IdgBWu4XMyUiByhxiWscrTQUefahTzRp1RSCUXkA1NEPYZLsf6GKXdY9RB86BJc2qP_P8/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marla Streb leading the April 17th RFES Bike Assembly</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>2. Bike Rodeo at Rodgers Forge Elementary School.</b><br />
<br />
On Tuesday, May 8th, <a href="http://www.bikemd.org/">Bike Maryland</a> will be conducting their Bike-Minded Training Program at RFES for 3-5th graders. The course will last 45 minutes for each class and all bicycles and helmets will be provided by Bike Maryland. The course will be led by Marla Streb, the Baltimore-based former National and World Mountain Biking Champion.<br />
<br />
In April, Marla recently conducted a bicycle assembly at RFES to teach kids about bike safety and also brought professional bicycle stunt riders to get the kids excited about bicycling.<br />
<br />
<b>3. New Bike Rack for RFES has been ordered (..but will BCPS allow it to be installed?)</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
As part of the grant that the RFES SRTS Committee was awarded last fall from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the Rodgers Forge Community Association has purchased a new bike rack to be donated to RFES and installed near the main entrance of the school. The rack has been ordered and is expected to be delivered in late May. It will hold 16 bikes, expanding the capacity of bike parking at RFES.<br />
<br />
However, despite great support from RFES staff, we have run into an unexpected issue with BCPS, which is not allowing the bike rack to be installed unless it is mounted on a concrete pad. Such a pad does not exist and a new one would have to be installed by one of their approved contractors. The school received a quote of $8,214, mostly for the installation of the concrete pad. BCPS representatives have told the school that they do not have funds available for the installation. So as of right now, we are in the unfortunate position of not being able to install the rack so it will be stored inside the school indefinitely until this issue is resolved.<br />
<br />
We had expected to be able to place the freestanding rack (which weighs over 100 lbs.) on a landscaped mulch bed, as is common practice at many schools around the country. To alleviate the BCPS concern about liability and safety, we offered to use community labor and donated materials to pour footers to anchor the rack into the ground at its corners instead of going through the expense and undesirable environmentally unfriendly concrete pad, but BCPS Facilities still said no to that without explanation. So, we are hoping that BCPS will reconsider their decision and allow some flexibility about the installation. Our County Councilman David Marks, who has been a staunch supporter of SRTS is also working on this issue to see if a solution can be found. Until then, the new bike rack will unfortunately be kept in storage..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-66750169623854710512011-11-29T19:39:00.001-08:002011-11-29T21:23:54.572-08:00Latest SRTS News<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_575991902"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_q-EDprp-OPcus5q5-kTpa8JABSKcrYAaUqcZWZJsgVzs50FJv6mXPsONTcLS5yWM7wQPlRiqbICQSsjabk42-oVOlANhGMEHeks0E96gV8x5PkvfvP4OV33TKWerbCcCX3986vhZy0A/s640/walk+to+school+day.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of six "walking school buses" during Walk to School Day on Oct. 5th (image: Towson Patch)</td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Rodgers Forge Elementary Celebrates Walk to School Day! </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thanks to everyone who participated in Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5th. The event was widely seen as a great success and we have received a lot of positive feedback. Over 40 schools in the Baltimore region participated, but most media attention, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">including coverage in the </span><a href="http://towson.patch.com/articles/photos-rodgers-forge-celebrates-walk-to-school-day#photo-8015455" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Towson Patch</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/video/29397316/detail.html" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">WBAL-TV</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, and the Towson Times,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">was focused on Rodgers Forge because of the high level of organization and participation. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The event was a collaborative partnership between the Rodgers Forge Community Association SRTS Committee, RFES staff, parent volunteers, the PTA, Baltimore County Police, and AAA. After the walk to school, the school day began with all students attending a fun and informative walking safety assembly in the school cafetorium which was led by a AAA representative and BCPD officer.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There is significant interest in formalizing the "walking school buses" on a regular basis. The committee will be reaching out to volunteers and parents in December who have expressed interest to determine how to best move forward.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Rodgers Forge Wins SRTS Grant</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The RFCA SRTS committee recently applied for and just learned that it won a $1,000 "mini-grant" from the National Center for Safe Routes To School. The grant will be used to buy a new bike rack for RFES as well as educational materials. Our grant application was one of only 26 out of over 250 applications to be selected nationwide. We hope this will be the first of several grants we will win which will go toward other SRTS improvements.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Baltimore County Police Expanding Support of Rodgers Forge SRTS</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVntf2MWRIUW3k7AXzC_LiVUHP1jyVPA-dlyHxjwpj0aKjaRYqIeYQU6ksme0h0uOox8OzIQcxeTRdWezBRIZEOHi0e8_M5swh2Kf-c569XjVle8sTXngnr2doICa2qMoq3loHT2u3n1ZJ/s1600/crosswalk+parkers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVntf2MWRIUW3k7AXzC_LiVUHP1jyVPA-dlyHxjwpj0aKjaRYqIeYQU6ksme0h0uOox8OzIQcxeTRdWezBRIZEOHi0e8_M5swh2Kf-c569XjVle8sTXngnr2doICa2qMoq3loHT2u3n1ZJ/s400/crosswalk+parkers.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked vehicles blocking a crosswalk endangers<br />
the safety of children and other pedestrians.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Baltimore County Police will soon expand their support of our SRTS efforts in the important areas of "Enforcement" and "Education". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Enforcement efforts will start immediately, and will focus on improving pedestrian safety by ticketing drivers who create unsafe conditions for children walking to and from school. Special attention will be paid to the following: </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The persistent problem of drivers illegally </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">blocking crosswalks by parking on the corner of Dumbarton Road at Glen Argyle Road and Regester</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Avenue in front of the school, particularly during afternoon pick-up</span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">General </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">speeding through the neighborhood</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Failure to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Failure to obey stop signs</span></b></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Enforcement will happen on a regular basis throughout the school year and may occur anywhere in Rodgers Forge along routes where children walk to school.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Education component will include a pedestrian and bicycle safety course for RFES students, tentatively slated for April. This will include a school-wide assembly followed by a weekend "bike rodeo." More details to follow as they become known early in the new year.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">SRTS Survey Results Tallied</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The committee has completed data entry of the SRTS survey, which was sent home to all RFES households shortly after the beginning of the school year. We received responses back from over 90% of households, which is a phenomenal response rate. A big "Thank You" to all who took the time to fill out the survey and return it! We are currently summarizing the data which will be shared in January via the SRTS blog. The results will help </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">the committee better </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">understand issues and identify opportunities and challenges as it continues its work.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Developing a Complete SRTS Plan for Rodgers Forge</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Using the results of the survey and other observations, the committee is developing a list of prioritized recommendations about SRTS improvements which could improve safety and encourage more walking and biking to/from school. We will be sharing this as a draft with the community sometime after the new year via the blog with the purpose of soliciting feedback before finalizing our recommendations.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-69009675003674303952011-09-25T22:47:00.000-07:002011-09-30T13:36:25.188-07:00Participate in Walk to School Day: Wednesday, October 5th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj2XrPNOywlY_aKoJlQ64oRJS76Q974rQDk4qFYARhiHQgOGfwQWVLRwIw1k9lE4-XJih1wPpfPmxemGEPTDOKdOtYkBFLKhTCVViCN7aDml1x6ApqoxF9LvLPN8tRrHRcNCIh9GoZxH2/s1600/walk+to+school+day+graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj2XrPNOywlY_aKoJlQ64oRJS76Q974rQDk4qFYARhiHQgOGfwQWVLRwIw1k9lE4-XJih1wPpfPmxemGEPTDOKdOtYkBFLKhTCVViCN7aDml1x6ApqoxF9LvLPN8tRrHRcNCIh9GoZxH2/s400/walk+to+school+day+graphic.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>Wednesday, October 5th is <a href="http://www.walktoschool.org/about/index.cfm">International Walk to School Day</a>, an annual event that seeks to encourage more walking to school. The Rodgers Forge Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Committee and the PTA are organizing a RFES Walk to School Day on the morning of October 5th to encourage this fun, healthy activity for RFES kids and families. Rodgers Forge is a ready-made community for walking and virtually all Rodgers Forge households are within a short, pleasant walk of our neighborhood school.<br />
<br />
Now, lots of kids already walk to RFES, but many don't. We know that parents' work schedules are often an obstacle to walking their kids to school, or that many parents are uncomfortable with letting their children walk to school without adult supervision. These are common issues and completely understandable, yet there are many important benefits to our children and to our community in having kids walk to school (learn more about the benefits of walking to school at the bottom of this article). Helping to overcome these obstacles is what this community-led initiative is all about.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Enter The Walking School Bus</span></b><br />
In order to provide the opportunity for kids who are typically driven to school to experience the benefits and joys of walking , we're organizing <b>"walking school buses"</b> for Walk To School Day on the <b><u>morning</u></b> of Wednesday, October 5th. Walking school buses are groups of school children walking together along designated routes, accompanied by parents who volunteer as chaperons - in essence, the walking school bus "drivers." Even kids and parents who already walk, but who want to join in the fun are welcome to walk with the groups! Here's a 3-minute video about walking school buses:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7GpC9km8sY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, how does it work?</span></b><br />
The concept is actually pretty straightforward. Walking school buses are enabled by parent volunteers to act as chaperons and "drive" each of the walking school buses. There are typically 2 or 3 parents - one at the front, one at the back, and one on the side if needed - for each walking school bus to accompany their respective group. The group walks along a designated route through the neighborhood to school, picking up kids along the way, just like a real school bus.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1dFxctSauqI6zHj_93r2emKJjcwAQu5C3kVnVyj0GbGiiJG3cMaaabqMjk-tZvkoq_9LusXId4qYRYGNoW60bmD4gZcDM9AdwER-rt6jlKd8C5JWJwr_YRtgL5sTPuFQOYSuJAdOFx6R/s1600/walking+school+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1dFxctSauqI6zHj_93r2emKJjcwAQu5C3kVnVyj0GbGiiJG3cMaaabqMjk-tZvkoq_9LusXId4qYRYGNoW60bmD4gZcDM9AdwER-rt6jlKd8C5JWJwr_YRtgL5sTPuFQOYSuJAdOFx6R/s400/walking+school+bus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A walking school bus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We have created six walking school bus routes throughout Rodgers Forge as shown on the map below. We need your help in making it happen, so please consider volunteering!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIqkToTs6vlI9kBpt8uIhX5J7hW2kzYy4B0TFHbpo1jOA0pLLVQnTRoJ8SUlraIe0ofbNZ31AEhOiRdYMnWog2T-BvOz7eKjK8inoarTmUe4TrtnyFDocuXdNIlih9PZQgWpBFr8quiDp/s1600/RFES+walking+school+bus+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIqkToTs6vlI9kBpt8uIhX5J7hW2kzYy4B0TFHbpo1jOA0pLLVQnTRoJ8SUlraIe0ofbNZ31AEhOiRdYMnWog2T-BvOz7eKjK8inoarTmUe4TrtnyFDocuXdNIlih9PZQgWpBFr8quiDp/s640/RFES+walking+school+bus+map.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><br />
Each of the colored lines represents a different walking school bus route, and the yellow dots represent the location of a "corner captain." Corner captains are additional volunteers who help increase the visibility of pedestrian activity in the neighborhood and help with crossings.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How can I volunteer as a Walking School Bus chaperon or corner captain?</span></b><br />
If you would like to volunteer as a walking school bus chaperon or a corner captain, you can do so in one of the following ways:<br />
<br />
1.Send an e-mail ASAP with your name, address, and phone number to SRTS committee chair Stu Sirota at <a href="mailto:stusirota@verizon.net">stusirota@verizon.net</a>.<br />
<br />
2. Fill out and return the paper slip provided in your child's red folder on Monday, September 26th.<br />
<br />
If you send an e-mail, please indicate which color route you would like to chaperon or at what corner you would like to stand. Volunteers will be contacted prior to October 5th to receive or confirm assignments.<br />
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Walking school buses will start from their point of origins at 8:30 AM and proceed to RFES along their designated routes and arrive at the school by 8:45.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How can my child participate?</span></b><br />
If you would like for your child or children to participate in the walking school bus, please wait with them at a point along the route - either at the sidewalk in front of your house or the nearest street corner - for the walking school bus group to arrive before leaving your child. Groups will start out at 8:30 AM so please be outside early enough so that your child doesn't "miss the bus!" Remember, <u><b>the walking school buses are only happening on the morning of Walk to School Day, and NOT in the afternoon.</b></u><br />
<br />
Participation is, of course, purely voluntary and no registration is required, however if you would like your child to participate, <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we would appreciate it if you would <a href="mailto:stusirota@verizon.net">send us an email to the aforementioned e-mail address</a> with the number and age of children who will be walking, your address, and the COLOR route of the walking school bus your child will walk with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>for our planning purposes.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What else is going on during the event?</span></b><br />
In addition to the walking school buses, the Baltimore County Police Department will have uniformed officers and squad cars in the vicinity of RFES on Walk to School Day and will be talking to students about walk safety as they arrive at the school. The police may even give out some fun safety materials to the kids.<br />
<br />
We hope to organize regular walking school buses throughout the school year if there is interest, and perhaps even <a href="http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/what-bicycle-train">"Bicycle Trains"</a> next spring! Even if that means your child gets to walk to school once a week or a few times a month, the benefits of doing so can be immense.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So just what are the benefits of walking to school, anyway?</span></b><br />
<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Consider the following:</span></b></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking is great exercise</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for you and your child</span></span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>.</b> If done regularly, even for 10 to 15 minutes, it can improve your health, your circulation and your mental concentration. And it can help you and your kid stay in shape and keep extra pounds off.</span> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Increased levels of daily physical activity for children:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Helps control weight, build lean muscle and reduce fat.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Improves sense of self-image and autonomy.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fosters healthy social and emotional development.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Improves academic performance and alertness.</span></li>
</ul></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking improves personal safety and community cohesion.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By walking, your child will</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> learn about safety in the street and how to navigate traffic</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. Your child will also get to know the surroundings and the neighborhood better. By having more kids walking, drivers become more accustomed to pedestrian activity and tend to drive more cautiously. Also, having more pedestrian activity in the neighborhood increases “eyes on the street” and reduces the likelihood of crime.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walking kids to school also fosters friendlier neighborhoods as kids and parents interact with one another and socialize on a daily basis.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking children to school helps families spend more quality time together.</b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Our lives are so hectic, and many of us wish we could just "stop and smell the roses," especially with our kids. Your daily walk to and from school can be </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a good time to talk with your child</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> and share experiences about their day and the world around them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #efefef;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #171717; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking helps reduce traffic congestion.</b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b>More walkers means fewer cars traveling through the neighborhood. Fewer cars means less congestion in the pick-up and drop-off points at the school and further improves safety for pedestrians and drivers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Walking to school also i</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ncreases the likelihood that children and adults will choose to walk and bike for other short distance trips.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Walking is better for the environment and the air our children breathe.</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b> Reducing the number of</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> vehicular pick-up and drop-offs each day can have a dramatic impact on improving the quality of air around the school.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Vehicle emissions are the leading cause of childhood asthma. Also, if a family chooses to walk to school (rather than drive a personal vehicle) they can reduce their carbon footprint by .164 metric tons annually. If half of the students at an average size elementary school choose to walk to school their impact could be a savings of over 39 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year. This is the equivalent of the carbon-removing abilities of 1000 trees. Leaving the car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwWzo-gJeGyiB2Tx_-ZCfD7sTkM33OpKtv5fMLwP2WM9nlDSaC8FHTzRt6wEfLyVMVCsVaYPZq4e7FuXjyaJMnpxicoJDF3rEU3tTdN4mf08ajn1zpURksuXDjkKL__fafmadf9yVQBDF/s1600/walking+school+bus+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwWzo-gJeGyiB2Tx_-ZCfD7sTkM33OpKtv5fMLwP2WM9nlDSaC8FHTzRt6wEfLyVMVCsVaYPZq4e7FuXjyaJMnpxicoJDF3rEU3tTdN4mf08ajn1zpURksuXDjkKL__fafmadf9yVQBDF/s400/walking+school+bus+picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Your ideas and comments are welcome. We hope to see you walking on October 5th!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113909856240788097.post-55068741008618243542011-08-27T20:37:00.000-07:002011-08-28T10:30:17.986-07:00Rodgers Forge Elementary School Safe Routes to School (SRTS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARN9JA7uwn9k1C-BmuADdG9vFz8W1ELLKub38lNrcMFTfJOOL5qn4-O6kdYFRypVUsWVEO0WAUs8VgrlVMS-WjSPk3iYLcRCcU1bw5Td37Pj9zW_45cX0J3TbgnETsytMT2tOOc2K5nA5/s1600/Cartoon_F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARN9JA7uwn9k1C-BmuADdG9vFz8W1ELLKub38lNrcMFTfJOOL5qn4-O6kdYFRypVUsWVEO0WAUs8VgrlVMS-WjSPk3iYLcRCcU1bw5Td37Pj9zW_45cX0J3TbgnETsytMT2tOOc2K5nA5/s1600/Cartoon_F.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Welcome to the place for up to date information on the Rodgers Forge Elementary School (RFES) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Initiative. This first post provides introductory background information on SRTS at RFES. It also provides an opportunity for community input and feedback about SRTS ideas and activities. <i>We want to hear from you!</i><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><b>What is Safe Routes to School (SRTS)?</b></div><div>Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a concept that began in the late 1990's and has grown into a national movement. SRTS has one overarching goal: <b>To get more school children walking and biking to school wherever feasible.</b> Today there are more than 10,000 SRTS programs nationwide, and there are federal and state SRTS grants available for communities to support their SRTS activities. SRTS activities help increase the number of kids walking and biking in two ways:</div><div><ol><li><b>By making the walking and biking environment safer and more attractive</b> through physical enhancements such as improved crosswalks and signage, by conducting pedestrian and bicycle safety courses, and better enforcement of traffic laws; and</li>
<li><b>By encouraging more walking and biking</b> through community organized walk-to-school events, contests, and educational events that highlight the health, social, and environmental benefits of walking.</li>
</ol></div><div><b>Why SRTS?</b></div><div>Historically, the vast majority of children in the U.S. walked and biked to school. However, there has been a sharp decline in the percentage of children walking or biking to school from over 70% in the 1960's to just 12% today. This trend has had a major impact on the amount of exercise and physical activity our kids get each day. SRTS seeks to reverse the trend and encourage more kids to walk and bike in order to improve physical health, as well as a host of other associated benefits. Recent studies have shown that children that walk to school arrive more alert and better prepared to learn. There are also social benefits for communities from increased walking as children and parents encounter classmates and neighbors on the way to and from school. This increases neighborhood activity, community cohesiveness, and increases safety and security by putting more "eyes and ears on the street." In addition, having fewer kids being driven to school means less traffic congestion and improved air quality around schools. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Rodgers Forge is inherently an ideal community for walking, and many RFES children do indeed walk. However, through observation and discussion among many community members, there are clear opportunities to improve the walking environment, and ways to encourage a greater percentage of families to walk and bike in Rodgers Forge through voluntary, fun events.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>How did SRTS get started in Rodgers Forge?</b></div><div>In early 2011, the Rodgers Forge Community Association (RFCA) Board of Governors voted to support the idea of starting a SRTS program for RFES. Soon after that, the Board formed a SRTS Committee, chaired by RFCA Board member Stu Sirota, who had spearheaded the idea of starting a SRTS effort in Rodgers Forge. Stu is a community planning consultant who specializes in the design of "walkable communities" and is also experienced in managing SRTS programs. Stu and his wife Lisa, also a professional planner, currently have two children attending RFES, and felt that a community-led SRTS program could make their great walkable community of Rodgers Forge even greater. The SRTS Committee is comprised of community members who are interested in helping advance SRTS efforts and membership on the committee is not limited to RFCA Board members. In fact, only two of the current 8 members of the committee are members of the RFCA Board.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>How does SRTS work and what can we expect in the coming months?</b></div><div>As mentioned, SRTS is a grassroots, community led initiative. For SRTS to be most effective, we are developing a partnership with the school and the PTA, and anticipate doing the same with local agencies including the police department and public works department. The SRTS committee started meeting this summer to formulate ideas for enhancing the walking/biking environment to/from RFES and ways to encourage more walking and biking. This fall, the committee will be evaluating ideas and seeking additional input and feedback from the community. </div><div><br />
</div><div>We have also developed a take home survey for RFES parents to fill out and return. This survey is being administered through the Rodgers Forge PTA and will be included in the back to school packet with each student during the first week of school. The survey will be vital to informing our work and identifying opportunities for moving SRTS efforts forward. The SRTS Committee plans to use this blog and other web-based media to share and present ideas on specific SRTS elements and expects to have an initial set of draft recommendations by the end of the calendar year. There may also be an opportunity to begin implementing "low hanging fruit" as soon as the fall.</div><div><br />
</div><div>SRTS will be an ongoing effort, and the committee plans to track progress of SRTS efforts along the way. If there are recommended physical improvements that will require funding, Rodgers Forge should be in a very good position to compete for it because we will have a strong SRTS plan in place. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>How can I learn more about SRTS?</b></div><div>The following websites provide a wealth of information about SRTS, and the following videos provide an excellent overview of SRTS:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Web resources</u>:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/">www.saferoutesinfo.org</a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/maryland-safe-routes-school-guidebook-guide-parents-and-communities"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/maryland-safe-routes-school-guidebook-guide-parents-and-communities</span></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/">www.saferoutespartnership.org</a></span></span></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Short videos</u>:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqBp8w0KCP8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0e774a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b>How can I get Involved?</b></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">If you would like to join the SRTS Committee, please send an e-mail to SRTS Committee Chair, Stu Sirota at SRTScomments</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">@tndplan.com</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">If you would like to receive updates on SRTS Committee activities, please subscribe to this blog.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">If you would like to comment or share ideas or concerns about SRTS, please feel free to submit comments on the blog</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #0e774a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">.</span></li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0