Safe Routes to School - Whatcom County

Projects

Safe Routes to School Program

Safe Routes to School is a national program that helps make walking and bicycling to school safer for children. Nationwide, Safe Routes to School programs have increased the number of students, parents, and staff who regularly walk or bike to school. In 1970, about 90% of children nationwide walked or biked to school. By 2000, only about 10% walked or biked, and the majority were being driven. Traffic congestion and safety problems rose while children’s daily physical activity declined. Safe Routes to School grants are helping schools address the causes and improve conditions for everyone.

Whatcom Council of Governments assisted the Ferndale School District’s Mountain View Elementary School to win a Safe Routes to School grant from Washington State Department of Transportation. The grant allowed Mountain View to partner with WCOG, Ferndale Public Works, Ferndale Police, and many others to develop and carry out a safe, fun, and successful program. Here are some of the elements of the Mountain View Safe Routes to School program:

Walk and Wheel Wednesdays promotion: Students get rewards when they walk, bicycle, scooter, skateboard or roller skate to school on Wednesdays during two 10-week periods during autumn and spring. Students who live too far to walk or bike to school can participate by making walking trips to other destinations from home.

New Traffic Signal Installed: Ferndale Public Works Engineering reconstructed the Douglas/Main intersection and installed a new traffic signal and signage. The signal helps hundreds of children who cross Main Street each morning and afternoon on their way to and from Mountain View School. The Safe Routes to School grant provided some funding for the signal construction.

International Walk to School Day Celebration: On the first Wednesday in October, Mountain View joined thousands of schools around the world in celebrating Walk to School Day. The event awarded treats for children who walked or bicycled to school. A celebrity visit from the Walk to School Chicken gave students the chance to help the chicken cross the street. Ferndale’s newspaper featured a photo of the students with Walk to School Chicken.

Bike to Work and School Day Celebration: Mountain View Elementary School hosted a Celebration Station for the annual Bike or Walk to School celebration in May. Students and staff walking or biking to school received refreshments, treats, and prizes and the chance to win larger prizes in a county-wide drawing. Students who made at least 8 walking or bicycling trips during the 10 week promotion leading up to Bike or Walk to School Day earned a free Safe Routes To School t-shirt. All students who participated were given a “certificate of participation” at the end of the program. 48% of the entire student body participated in the program, and 39% of those students earned a t-shirt.

Safe Routes to School Coordinator: WCOG provided a trained Safe Routes to School coordinator to organize and facilitate the program at Mountain View School. The Coordinator met regularly with the Principal, the PTO, and the Fitness Instructor to plan the events and coordinate schedules. The Coordinator also worked with the Ferndale Police Department and the Whatcom Traffic Safety Team and Whatcom Smart Trips. The Safe Routes to School grant provided funding for the coordinator position.

Whatcom Safe Routes to School Workshop: Mountain View School hosted the first Whatcom County Safe Routes to School workshop to inform communities and school districts about the benefits of Safe Routes to School. The workshop featured expert speakers from the Washington State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Department, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, and Feet First a state-wide pedestrian advocacy organization.

Resources for Safe Routes to School are available from the Washington State Department of Transportation and from the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Check the resources and links for more information.