Walk to School Leaders - SDOT teamed up with Feet First and Coe Elementary to encourage walking to school
On May 19, SDOT invited parents, teachers and students to participate in a walking audit at Coe Elementary School. SDOT is conducting a Safe Routes to School program at Coe that includes engineering improvements around the school as well as pedestrian safety education and a walking encouragement campaign. During the walk, participants shared their concerns about the walking routes to school. They also shared their delights in walking around their neighborhood, noting things like fragrant street side gardens, mature street trees, and smooth sidewalks. Brian Dougherty, SDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator outlined plans for improvements near the school including new school zone beacons, curb bulbs, curb ramps, and additional bike parking. Construction of these improvements will begin this summer with pedestrian education and encouragement to follow next fall.
Bryant Bike Train headed to school
The following day was Bike to School Day in Seattle, with twenty elementary and K-8 schools participating – nearly 40% of Seattle schools! Enthusiasm was contagious at Bryant Elementary School where nearly 35% of the children biked to school. SDOT awarded a Mini Grant to the Bryant PTA earlier this year to promote walking and biking. The school kicked off Bike to School month with a celebration on April 29 including bike tuning stations, bike decorating activities and slow bike races to get kids and their families bike-ready and excited for some bike fun. A bike map was hung near the bike racks and families began putting dots on the map to show their homes so families could see how far Bryant kids were traveling by bike. On Friday mornings kids biking to school were rewarded with small prizes. Despite all the rain earlier this month, more kids began biking to school as May progressed. On May 13, there were 109 bikes at school. For Bike to School Day, kids and their families met at Top Pot Donuts and were treated to donuts and coffee. After fueling up, 185 kids rode in a HUGE bike train just in time for the morning bell. At the end of this month, the class with the most number of bike trips will receive a trophy.
Bike Parking at Bryant