Bicycle Education Case Study Released

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) physical education program has a goal of teaching students life long physical activity skills. To accomplish this goal, PWCS is expanding the bicycle education program. Previously, two schools taught the Bike Smart Virginia curriculum. In 2011, PWCS added four additional pilot schools.

In the expansion of the bicycle education program, PWCS had to address safety, teacher training and the logistics and maintenance of bicycle fleets. As I speak with other school districts, I know these are major questions and or hurdles to implementing bicycle education. PWCS took advantage of existing opportunities and ensured safety was a high priority. Bicycle skills provide opportunities for lifelong physical activity and the district feels the program is very worthwhile.

The case study highlights how PWCS addressed these questions as well as their keys to success. For example, teachers that have taught Bike Smart Virginia developed a protocol for the classroom so newly teachers had a better understanding of what to expect in a classroom with bicycles.

The PWCS case study and more from the region can be found in our Best Practices.

Complete Streets workshop focuses on the region

In May 2012, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board adopted a Complete Streets policy. The policy required a regional workshop on Complete Streets implementation to aid local jurisdictions in adopting and implementing their own policies. The workshop is now scheduled for January 29th. Details are below, please plan to attend. This is a great opportunity to hear neighboring jurisdiction success stories and how barriers were addressed.

Complete Streets Implementation Workshop

REGISTRATION LINK

https://www.mwcog.org/committee/committee/registration.asp?COMMITTEE_ID=103&EVENT_ID=8345

WHAT

A “complete street” safely and adequately accommodates motorized and nonmotorized users in a manner appropriate to the function and context of the facility.  Most of the jurisdictions in the Washington region either have or are developing policies requiring “Complete Streets”.

This workshop will focus on implementation of Complete Streets policies in the Washington region.  A panel of local and State government officials that have Complete Streets policies in place will discuss their experiences implementing those policies, with an emphasis on best practices and lessons learned.

WHO should attend?

This event is open to the public, but will be of special interest to consultants, designers, transportation planners, and maintenance staff, and others responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of streets.  Come hear what your peers are doing to accommodate non-motorized users as part of their “Complete Streets” policies.

WHEN

Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Lunch at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE

Training Center, 1st Floor
777 North Capitol Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20001
Directions:  http://www.mwcog.org/contact/directions/default.asp

THE PANELISTS

Fatemeh Allahdoust, VDOT

Lyn Erikson, MDOT

Jim Sebastian, DDOT

Richard Viola, Arlington Department of Environmental Services

Victor Weissberg, Prince George’s Department of Public Works and Transportation

COST

There is no cost for this workshop, but advance registration is required.  Lunch will be provided.

REGISTER at

https://www.mwcog.org/committee/committee/registration.asp?COMMITTEE_ID=103&EVENT_ID=8345

If you register but find you are unable to attend, please notify Michael Farrell.

CONTACT

Michael Farrell, 202.962.3760, mfarrell@mwcog.org

New Regional Opportunities

With the adoption of MAP-21, the new federal transportation bill, the National Capital Transportation Planning Board (TPB) will receive Transportation Alternatives funding to distribute via a competitive grant process.The TPB is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for our region.

Transportation Alternatives combines all funding for walking, bicycling and Safe Routes to School into one funding pot. Transportation Alternatives also added some road uses as eligible projects. Therefore, it is important that Transportation Alternatives funding prioritizes walking and bicycling.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership just released two new resources to help navigate this new funding at the regional level. The first targets MPO staff and how they can improve internal process to advocate for walking, bicycling and Safe Routes to School. The second focuses on how advocates can get involved to ensure walking, bicycling and Safe Routes to School are prioritized.

You can find these resources on regional governments in the National Learning Network. A recorded webinar on the topic will be available shortly.