Tag Archive for: Safe Routes to Schools

Youth Task Force Members Speak About Safe Routes

Header graphic by Alex from NEA Community Learning Center.

The Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Youth Task Force is made up of high school students who help coordinate SR2S events at their schools and take an active role in encouraging active and shared transportation among their peers. We recently asked them about why they joined the Youth Task Force and how their attitudes about active transportation have changed since they were in elementary school. 

Students touched on themes of equity, access to public transit, independence, finding community, being of service, and fun. They shared their inspiration through artwork and text.

This is part one of a two-part series spotlighting Youth Task Force voices.

Building community

The glue that holds active transportation groups together is the strong bonds of community formed when people walk or bike together. Working to bring the joy of walking and rolling to their fellow students is also a bonding experience for Youth Task Force members. 

Natalie

Alameda Community Learning Center student Natalie shared multiple community connections, including memories of happy bus rides with family: “I’m motivated by Michele [Walker — Transform’s YTF liaison]! Maya (another learner at ACLC) invited me to join, and I thought it would be interesting. The project (social media) was really fun. It was great to do with people who are on the same page as you. In elementary school, I was motivated by being able to spend time with my grandparents. I always took the bus from the Oakland library with my grandma, and we’d walk up a hill to our house. I also always took the BART with my grandparents to San Francisco, and we’d walk around and eat food! 

Katie

Katie, who goes to Irvington High School in Fremont, shared how community has inspired her to stay involved: “First year, I just joined because I wanted a thing to do! But then, I really liked the interaction with people. BikeMobile events, like getting free bike repair to help the community. Direct impact! When I was younger, I remember Golden Sneaker and was simply motivated by pride in shiny things!”

Giving youth the freedom to move — and have fun!

For many high school students who are old enough to go places on their own but too young to drive (or don’t want a driver’s license), feeling confident to ride a bike or take the bus means independence. The Youth Task Force gives students a chance to share the fun and independence with others. 

Keenan from Alameda High School said, “One thing that motivates me to do SR2S work is my mom, who emphasized how important it is to be able to get to school independently. Also important to be eco-friendly. Now I realize this myself and think it’s important to help others do this too.”

Berkeley High School student Alex said, “I think what motivates me to work with SR2S is that I personally have been biking to school since kindergarten almost every single day and it gives me independence and is a really great tool for people to have. I also care about the environment and think that prompting environmentally friendly ways to get to school is beneficial. Also noticed that cars around BHS are really dangerous! Mostly, I want to encourage biking! I think in elementary school, I would have said pretty similarly that I want to support people biking to school. I remember doing Bike to School Day & Bike blenders from elementary school, and that was super fun!”

A desire to make public transit a better transportation option motivates Oakland Technical High School student Reba, who said, “My motivation would be different from elementary school. Now I’m seeing how people get to school and learning more laws about transportation in general, and noticing there is not much bike infrastructure and AC Transit is not always reliable. Doing SR2S is a way to make public transportation more accessible.”

Showing the next generation how to get around

Youth Task Force members are a force for change. They’re inspired to share their love of walking and rolling with younger students in a ripple effect that spreads change throughout Alameda County schools.

Dylan, who goes to Granada High School in Livermore, said, “At first, prior to joining — I am new to the Green Team club — I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my friend, who is an officer. I volunteered to join, not knowing what I was getting into, but after getting into it I saw it as a new opportunity to teach younger students what I wish I would have learned about. I had no idea about transportation’s effect on climate change or our environment because I hadn’t learned about it. I saw this as an opportunity to do so, and I thought that was cool. Now, I get to coordinate things for my current school and for the elementary school I went to. I get to give something back that I didn’t have that I wish I did!”

Jyoshika and Sharva

Jyoshika, an American High School student in Fremont, wants to help her fellow students gain environmental consciousness: “What motivates me now is to spread awareness about clean energy. In elementary school, I didn’t really care about the environment, and I’m really proud I’ve grown past that and am looking into environmental issues. I was a city girl and very into things that cause pollution, and didn’t care, but now I do! More environmental education and events in middle school and high school — I realized it was important!”

International Walk and Roll Day Brings out Youth in Alameda County

International Walk and Roll to School Day is the first big event of the school year for the Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) program. This year, it was held on October 9, and it was a huge success. 

Kicking off a year of walking and rolling

International Walk and Roll to School Day encourages students, families, and school staff to be more physically active while reducing pollution from transportation emissions. It promotes mode shift to active transportation and shared modes, such as carpooling or taking public transit. 

International Walk and Roll to School Day 2024

Transform SR2S staff and the many school champions who make this day happen celebrated students who walked, rolled, carpooled, or took the bus to school. We raised awareness about the Safe Routes program and the support available for people who want to bring more movement into their school commutes.

Moving toward mode shift

This year, 143 schools participated in the event, and 101 sent in counts. Over 10,000 students walked to school, more than 4,300 rolled in on bikes or scooters, and almost 3,400 carpooled. Close to 1,100 students got to school on school buses or public transit, for a total of close to 19,000 students participating in the day. That’s more than twice as many as the 8,400 students who came to school in a solo car. 

International Walk and Roll to School Dayl takes a large number of cars off the road, reducing congestion and making the trip to school easier, safer, and more pleasant. It was a day of mode shift in action, with more students walking than driving, and a great start to a year of active and shared transportation activities.

Ruby Bridges Day

Alameda County Schools Gear Up for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, November 14

The Walk and Roll theme for the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Program in November is Ruby Bridges Day. Students will walk or roll on November 14 to honor Ruby Bridges’ bravery in being a pioneer for equal educational opportunities for all children.

Who is Ruby Bridges?

On November 14, 1960, Bridges walked into William Frantz Elementary School, a few blocks from where she lived in New Orleans. At age 6, Bridges was the first Black child to enroll in the formerly all-white school, advancing the movement for school integration.

The path Bridges walked wasn’t easy. U.S. Marshals walked her into school every day that year as angry protesters shouted at her and her mother. Louisiana was forced to desegregate its schools by court order, but the other students and most of the teachers shunned the school’s first Black student.

Yet Bridges persevered, attending integrated schools through high school graduation and becoming an advocate for equal rights for all students. Her story shows what even the youngest among us can accomplish when we stand up for justice.

Ruby Bridges Visits Ruby Bridges Elementary

Bridges continues to provide inspiration for students and educators, breaking down barriers to educational opportunities. On November 14, 2022, she visited Ruby Bridges Elementary School in Alameda. Students greeted her, holding signs with slogans like, “I walk with Ruby for love.”

Ruby Bridges talks to Ruby Bridges Elementary students in 2022.

After speeches by student council members and guests, including Alameda’s mayor, Alameda CTC Program Manager Denise Turner, and the Superintendent of Schools, the MusicNotes performed their song, “Walk to School Like Ruby Did.” Students walked around the school, passing a statue of Bridges, as family and staff cheered them on.

Transform site coordinators and Alameda County SR2S arranged an assembly with more MusicNotes performances and a speech by Bridges, who also made classroom visits. It was a thrilling and inspiring Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day for everyone.

Ruby wasn’t alone in walking to school

In the 1960s, nearly half of all students walked or biked to school. A 2016 study found that, at most schools, fewer than 10% of youth walked or biked each day. The decline in walking and biking leads to poorer physical health and robs students of a vital opportunity to get the wiggles out before school or wind down after a long day.

The most common reason young people don’t walk to school is the distance, but other factors, such as concerns about safety from traffic and crime, also make parents uncomfortable letting their children walk to school. SR2S works with families and schools to overcome barriers and help youth experience the joy and freedom of safely walking and rolling to school.

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day 2024

On November 14, 2024, students from around the Bay Area and across the country will walk to school in honor of Ruby Bridges’ historic walk into the classroom on that day in 1960. AAA sponsors the event in partnership with the Ruby Bridges Foundation. Many schools in Alameda County will participate in what we expect will be a fun day and a chance to acknowledge the historic achievements of one six-year-old girl.

How Transform Prepares for International Walk & Roll to School Day

International Walk & Roll to School Day is rolling around again. This year’s celebration is on Wednesday, October 9, and our programs team is supporting 143 schools in Alameda County to make this happen with the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) program.

It’s been a busy few weeks at our offices. Here’s what it takes to get ready to create a fun day that encourages tens of thousands of students to choose active transportation for their commutes.

Organizing materials

Prizes and giveaways are a big part of International Walk & Roll to School Day. Our staff creates packages for each participating school, with promotional posters, mode charts to track how students got to school, and mood-changing pencils to reward students when they walk or roll up to school.

Preparing volunteers

International Walk & Roll to School Day school volunteers attend a task force held by our programs team to make sure they have all the information they need to host a successful event. In addition to getting the schools onboard, our programs team also wrangles Transform policy and administrative staff join in the fun by volunteering at one of our schools.

Showing up for the students

On the day of the event, Transform staff, our school champions, Safe Routes Youth Task Force members, and others will be on hand to lead walking school buses and bike trains, cheer on the walkers and rollers, hand out swag, and make sure everyone has a fantastic time celebrating active and shared transportation.

It’s a lot of work to have this much fun, but it’s worth it! Transform’s SR2S staff do what it takes throughout the school year to help youth discover the freedom and joy of active and shared transportation, creating habits that can last a lifetime.

Get excited!

Almost 3,500 schools across the US will participate in International Walk & Roll to School Day this year. At Transform, we’re thrilled to be part of the growing movement for active mobility, and we can’t wait to share the excitement with Alameda County students on October 9.

Fond Farewell to Program Staff

This July, Transform said goodbye to two wonderful program staffers who are moving on to new and exciting adventures. Jasmine Law (pictured above, far left) will be beginning a master’s degree in urban and regional planning at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Mario Valadez (pictured above, center) will be returning to the University of California, Berkeley this fall to pursue a master of city planning as an Arcus Social Justice Corps fellow.

Mario Valadez, second from left, at All Aboard.

Mario Valadez

In his time at Transform, Mario brought his insights and warmth to Oakland Making Moves, the Mobility Hubs project, and, last but not least, Safe Routes to Schools. And he joined Transform in not one but two Climate Rides! 

We’ll miss hearing about what bike rides, marathons, and danzas Mario took part of on weekends. As he leaves us to resume his studies at UC Berkeley and we know Mario is going to continue to bring positive change to the world, just as he did at Transform.

In his own words:

“I’m going to miss everyone at Transform and all the wonderful SR2S school champions, students, and families I’ve connected with over the past three years! Although I joined Transform to work on the SR2S team, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to also work on transportation and housing legislation at all levels of government. I’ve learned lots of valuable skills and lessons that I will take with me in my next phase, which will be pursuing a Master of City Planning at UC Berkeley. I’ll be just a short bike ride up the road and I’m sure my path will lead me back to Transform in one way or another!”

Jasmine Law, second from left, at International Walk and Roll to School Day
Jasmine Law, second from left, at International Walk and Roll to School Day

Jasmine Law

Jasmine has been an incredible asset to our Mobility Hubs and Safe Routes to Schools programs. During her time at Transform, she led International Walk and Roll to School Day and the Alameda Bike Fest for the city of Alameda. 

Jasmine is also returning to school, pursuing a degree at UCLA. We will miss her thoughtfulness, wittiness, and amazing accessories. We are sad to see her go but excited for her where this next chapter will take her

In her words:

“Over my time at Transform, I’ve gained so much experience engaging with schools, cities, and partners through my Safe Routes to Schools and Mobility Hubs work. I’m so grateful for the opportunities to work with so many wonderful people and organize amazing events like the Alameda Bike Festival! I will take my knowledge and experience of fun community engagement to my future endeavors at UCLA and beyond.”

New Year’s Resolution: Walk and Roll More with Safe Routes to School

It’s a new year and an excellent time to develop a healthy habit or add more movement to your week. And the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Program has the perfect incentive: the Golden Sneaker Contest.

What is the Golden Sneaker Contest?

The Golden Sneaker Contest is a two-week challenge from March 4-15, 2024. Classrooms in participating Alameda County schools compete against each other to see who can walk, bike, skate, roll, take transit, or carpool the most. Register by February 2 to join the fun and put your classroom in the running for the coveted Golden Sneaker Award!

The contest doesn’t start until March, but now is the perfect time to incorporate more shared and active transportation into your school commute.

3 tips to bike, walk, and roll more in 2024

You can be more active as an individual, but it can be even more fun to get out together as a family. Here are five ways families can roll together this year.

  • Join a bike train or walking school bus. Biking or walking to school with a group creates safety in numbers and gives students physical activity and social time on the way to school. Riding with a bike train, led by parents, helps young people learn how to ride safely. Young students can safely join a walking bus, with adult supervision. And it’s fun! If there isn’t a group rolling or walking in your neighborhood, consider starting one. If you want help starting a bike train or walking school bus in Alameda County, please contact the TransForm SR2S team. Helpful tip: Remember that a bike bus or walking bus doesn’t have to run every school day. Scheduling it once or twice a month/week gives students something to look forward to and helps build healthy habits.
  • With a little bit of rain gear, walking or biking on wet days can be fun. It’s tempting to want to drive on a rainy day, but bad weather doesn’t have to be a deterrent to walking or rolling to school. It can be refreshing to walk in the rain. What smells, sights, and sounds can you notice that happen only when it’s raining? With the right rain gear, you can have a fun walk and get to school dry. Helpful tip: Rain gear doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. A rain poncho is an excellent choice because you can layer under it for warmth, and it can protect a backpack, too. Add a pair of rain boots, and you’re ready for a delightful rainy day walk!
  • Plan ahead. Check the weather forecast for the week and plan how you’ll get to school. Weather doesn’t have to be a deterrent (see tip 2), but getting out in the rain doesn’t work for everyone. If the weather looks soggy and you can’t walk, consider carpooling with another family or taking the bus. A little forethought and a commitment to choosing shared or active mobility can help you keep the school commute fun. Helpful tip: Check out bus routes and schedules. You might be surprised at how easy it is to take AC Transit to school.

It takes about two weeks to cement a new habit. If you can replace some or all of your car trips with active or shared transportation for two weeks, chances are you’ll want to keep walking and rolling. The Golden Sneaker Contest can help with that, but you can get a head start now, so you’re ready for the competition in March.

For more tips on how to stay safe and enjoy your commute to school, the SR2S website has a list of helpful resources. If you have questions, the SR2S team is always happy to help. Feel free to reach out at [email protected].