Policies for Pupils: Working with School Boards on Walking and Bicycling Policies-- Leigh Ann Von...

Policies for Pupils Working with School Boards on

Walking and Bicycling Policies

ProWalk/ProBike/ProPlace 2014

Leigh Ann Von Hagen, AICP/PP

NJ Safe Routes to School Resource Center

Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center

Can I Bicycle to School?

A Review of School

Bicycling Policies

in New Jersey

Current Practice in New Jersey

County Survey

• 165 schools and 24 school districts surveyed in Middlesex County

• No districts-wide policies that outline walking procedures

• Typically, districts with 100% busing do not allow walking or biking

Deterrents to Bicycling to School

• Fear of liability

• Safety issues (traffic, no

sidewalks, etc.)

• Grade/age minimums for walking

and bicycling

• Lack of storage space at school

for bicycles, coats and helmets

• Delayed dismissal for walkers

and bikers until the buses and

car riders leave

Source: Ahlport, Kathryn N., et. al. Barriers to and Facilitators of Walking and Bicycling to School: Formative Results From the Non-Motorized Travel Study. 2007.

Current Practice in New Jersey

Category Total

Don't know - can't give out information 10

District Policy - permitted 7

District Policy - permitted with age restrictions 33

District Policy - principal decides 32

No policy - permitted 36

No policy - permitted with age restrictions 10

No policy - not permitted 33

No policy - don't know 4

Summary of School Responses: Bicycle Policy

The principal or building administrator must grant

permission before students can ride.

“Because of the clear and present danger of accident in

traffic inherent in bicycle riding, it shall be the policy of

the Board to prohibit the use of bicycles by students to

travel to and from those schools so listed by the

principal.”

- Old Bridge Township School Board

Can they do that?

Are schools or school districts allowed to ban

bicycling and walking to school?

“A teacher or other person in authority over such pupil

shall hold every pupil accountable for disorderly conduct

in school and during recess and on the playgrounds of

the school and on the way to and from school.”

N.J.S.A. 18A:25-2

Land Use Joyce Kilmer E.S.

Milltown, NJ

Land Use

South Amboy E.S.

South Amboy, NJ

Land Use

Oak Tree E.S.

Monroe, NJ

Policy Survey Summary

Lack of coherence: little consistency in policies

Lack of procedure: schools informally allow or prohibit

bicycling and/or walking

Lack of communication: confusing two-tiered

jurisdiction over bicycling

Lack of agreement over safe navigability: no clear

differences in the built environment around schools that

allow bicycling and those that prohibit it.

Spinning our wheels

http://www.sustainablejersey.com

Sustainable Jersey for Schools Actions

• Energy and Greenhouse Gas

• Health and Wellness

• Green Design

• Land Use and Transportation

• Leadership and Capacity Building

• Operations and Maintenance

• Waste Management

• Arts/Culture School

• Diversity and Equity

• Sustainability Curriculum/Student Learning

Roll Out October 2014

• Schools registered with the program will get special

priority access and notification of incentives and grants.

• Schools will gain access to training, tools and expert

guidance.

• Sustainable Jersey certified schools will align with

municipal Sustainable Jersey actions.

Walk and Bike Friendly Schools

Adopt a Walk and Bike to School, Active Transportation or

School Wellness Policy for your school district that

encourages walking and bicycling to and from school.

Best Practices include: • Bicycle Parking and Storage

• Remote Drop-off/Pick-up Locations

• Staggered Dismissal (allow walkers and bikers to be dismissed first)

• Expanding Transportation Supervisor duties to include walking and bicycling

• Safe Routes to Bus Stops

• Establishing a walking club for staff

• Rewarding staff who walk or bike to school

Steps

1. Build awareness and allies for policy adoption

2. Provide Administration and BOE sample policy

• Safe Routes to School District Policy Workbook

• NJ Walking to School Model Policy

• NJ Bicycling to School Model Policy

3. Policy adoption and distribution

New Jersey Safe Routes to School Resource Center

Leigh Ann Von Hagen Sean Meehan Catherine Bull Trish Sanchez Shannon Sweeney New Jersey SRTS Help Desk

[email protected] 848-932-7901

saferoutesnj.org

Policies for Pupils: Working with School Boards on Walking and Bicycling Policies-- Leigh Ann Von...

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