4 IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
ACTIVE & SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
SCHOOL COMMUNITY OTHER
IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS AND GET THEM INVOLVED
Parents School, Boards Other local safety or
Staff Police, Municipality environmental orgs.
Students Health Dept. Local sponsors
INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY Local media All Stakeholders
IDENTIFY NEED FOR PROGRAM
(Neighbourhood Walkabout, Surveys, Create baseline)
Parents School Boards,
Staff Police, Municipality,
Students Health Dept.
PROJECT TEAM IN PLACE
DETERMINE SCOPE OF PROJECT
Walking Wednesdays/Walking Challenge
Walking School Buses
No Idling at School
Classroom Mapping
Parents
Stakeholders
Staff
Students
Community centers
PROMOTION TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY Local media
Libraries,
Board newsletter
other public areas
School newsletter
Stakeholders
PILOT PHASE
Stakeholders
ONGOING SUPPORT/MONITORING
CELEBRATION Local Media Stakeholders
EVALUATE PROGRAM Stakeholders
Safer routes
Less congestion
More people walking
Environmental impacts
Reduce Collisions/Near Misses
ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
4.1 INTERNATIONAL WALK
TO SCHOOL DAY (IWALK)
International Walk to School Day (IWALK) is the annual, premier
event of the Active & Safe Routes to School program. It is a mass
celebration of active transportation and its related issues are used to
introduce communities to the ASRTS program.
The Children’s Why an International Day?
City:
An international day creates a higher level of awareness of the
Italy’s Centro issues surrounding the journey to and from school, and at the same
Nacional de Cultura time provides an opportunity to share expertise and promote best
is researching “La practice.
città de bambini” (The
Children’s City) to For many parents around the world, the car has become the main
see if it is possible means of transporting children to and from school. Convenience,
to make cities more work commitments, safety concerns and general changes in lifestyle
suitable for children. in a growing economy are just some of the factors influencing their
The researchers,
choice of travel mode.
Francesco Tonucci
and Antonella
Rissotto, believe that if
a city is designed with
the needs of children
in mind the quality of
life is improved for all
the city’s inhabitants.
This is achieved by
including children
and youth in the
planning and decision
making process when
discussing the future
of our cities. (The
Children’s City, Centro
Nacional de Cultura,
www.cnc.pt )
The proportion of journeys to school made by car has increased
considerably in the last several years, with the knock-off effect being
a gradual decline in the numbers of children walking to and from
school on a regular basis.
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The Green Communities Association
The general themes that are promoted during IWALK include:
increasing daily physical activity, improving safety, enhancing
the environment, reducing levels of crime, developing
community cohesion, promoting social interaction and reducing
traffic congestion, pollution and speed near schools.
CANADIAN
International ATHLETES
Walk to School CLEAN THE AIR
Day wins
prestigious
international The Clean Air
Champions are
award Olympic and
National team
On June 5th, 2002, the athletes who are
30th World Environment passionate about air
Day, the International quality and physical
Walk to School Day health issues.
project was awarded the The Clean Air
Stockholm Partnership for Champions program
provides athletes
Sustainable Cities Award
as role models who
from his Majesty, the King of
motivate Canadians
Sweden, at a ceremony in to get active for the
Stockholm City Hall. IWALK environment and
was among 14 winners their health. Find out
representing innovative more about Clean
solutions for sustainable Air Champions by
development in metropolitan visiting their Web
areas from thirteen site at
countries around the world. cleanairchampions.ca
The winners of Stockholm Partnership for Sustainable Cities
Award were selected by an international jury. In all, over 220
development projects from 53 countries submitted entries
to the Partnerships Programme. Together, they represent a
‘knowledge base’ for the urban innovations useful to cities all
over the world.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to
Organize IWALK in Your Community
The following pages contain proven ideas and suggestions to help you organize a fun and
interesting event in your community. This material is also available on our Web site at
www.saferoutestoschool.ca and may be customized to suit your unique needs.
: ORGANIZE WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
NE
ST EP O AT YOUR SCHOOL
A successful event requires good organization. Get students, parents and teachers
involved in planning your Walk to School Day event. Here are some ideas to
help you get started:
Use the sample notice
saferoutestoschool.ca
provided on our Web
y
site at h ol Da
to Scndo e world!
www.saferoutestoschool.ca tional nada and ar Walk ou th
nternalace acrosEsRCaDATE HERE
I ing p T
Display the poster Is tak INS
around the school, on
the parents’ bulletin
board and in the staff
chool…
room. op to s
oter, skip or h
de, sco on’t drive!
Make Walk to School ike, bla but d
Walk, b
Day announcements at
your September Parent
Council and Student Coun
meetings.
Have students create
announcements and read that
e hope
them each day on the scho t and w
citin g even SCHOOL
this ex WALK TO
PA system. ating in to
particip do their best
hool is l
Our sc ll families wil
a onger
Approach local business nts, str
r stude
ts, h ealthie vironment.
for prize donations, juice, r stree cleaner en
ote safe a
He lp prom munities, and
snacks, and treats. Custom com
help us
now to
the sample letter provided needed event.
achers y
and Te to School Da _________.
Web site at arents _
Stud ents, P nize our Walk __________
orga __ ______
www.saferoutestoschool.ca Contac
t _____
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The Green Communities Association
WO : IDEAS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
ST EP T
Cool Contests
• Hold a school contest to get the “Best Ideas For Getting Your Parents To Walk To School With You.”
• Walk across Canada by walking to school, starting on Walk to School Day. Use the Cross Canada
Walking Map to help you along your way.
• Ask one or two parents to organize a Walk to School Day contest for the school, e.g. spray paint an
old sneaker to make a ‘golden shoe award’ and present it to the class with the highest participation
on the day.
• Pair up with another school anywhere in the world that you already may be in contact with and
challenge them to walk to school.
• Hold a school contest to see which grade or class had the highest participation on Walk to School
Day and award the grade or class with a pizza party.
Fun & Creative Activities
• Have students make banners and posters announcing Walk
to School Day and hang them around the school and/or
have them carry their banners and posters to school
on Walk to School Day.
• Create works of art that portray the people, plants,
animals and interesting buildings in the school
neighbourhood.
• Design colourful badges, scarves, headbands, or
crazy hats to wear on the walk to school.
• Organize a sneaker parade – or a rubber boot parade
if it rains.
• Have children write about the importance of walking to school or about observations and
experiences along the route to school (e.g. poems, songs, stories or skits) for a special edition of
the school newspaper.
• Take photographs and videos of the walkers and submit them to local newspapers and TV stations.
• Organize a bike rodeo or start a school bike club.
• Use Walk to School Day to launch a monthly or weekly Walking Wednesday or Trekking Tuesday
program at your school.
• Check out the International Walk to School Day website at www.iwalktoschool.org for more ideas!
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
IDEAS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
Safety Issues
• Sing Elmer the Safety Elephant’s poem on the way to school.
• Paint or chalk footsteps along the safe routes to school.
• Invite speakers to talk to the students about traffic issues, street safety,
physical health and the environment, e.g. your local police, bike safety
groups, Public Health Nurses.
• Order publications about safety for distribution to walking students, cyclists
and roller-bladers prior to the event. Contact your local police division and
public health department for appropriate materials for your community.
• Use the Blazing Trails Through the Urban Jungle Mapping Booklet to
educate children and their families about the transportation hazards on their
way to school, and how to overcome them (contact us for more details).
• Take pictures of the hazards that students and their families face on the way
to school. These can then be used to initiate community discussions on how
to make the route to school safer.
• Invite your community police officer(s) to provide extra safe eyes on the
street on IWALK Day. See if they can provide officers on bikes or on horses!
• Invite a transportation engineer or a municipal planner to join students and
parents in a walk around the school prior to the event to identify pedestrian
safety issues.
• With permission and assistance from local police, block off traffic at the front
of your school.
Look all ways
Before you cross the street
Use your eyes and ears
Before you trust your feet
For Those Children
Who Require Bussing And Private Transportation
• If the Parent Council and Principal approve, consider organizing an
alternative drop-off point close to the school for school buses and driving
parents. This allows all students to participate, especially those who live far
away. You will need to arrange adult supervision on the walk to the school.
• Alternatively, have bussed students walk two laps around the school
grounds before school begins or at lunchtime, so all can participate.
• Some schools hold their annual Terry Fox run on the same day as Walk to
School Day. This is a good way to get bussed students and teachers active.
Most of all, HAVE FUN!
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The Green Communities Association
EE: PROMOTE WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
THR
S TEP IN YOUR COMMUNITY
1. Create a Media Release for your local newspaper,
radio and cable TV stations.
• Get your city council to proclaim the day on IWALK.
• There are samples on our Web site at www.saferoutestoschool.ca.
Invite your Mayor or other local dignitaries to walk to school
on IWALK.
• Send a fax to your local media outlet one or two days before the event.
You can customize the sample media release shown below. There is a copy on our Web site at
www.saferoutestoschool.ca.
MEDIA RELEASE
saferoutestoschool.ca
Contact Person: [Insert local contact information here]
[Name of City or Town]
Students Walk to School for Fun, Fitness, Safety, and Sustainability
[Insert date here] –Schools from [Insert name of city or town] will join millions of children today, in many nations
around the globe, participating in International Walk to School Day, or IWALK. IWALK is an annual event
designed to address the issues of physical activity, safer communities, and environmental health. [Add quotation
from a representative of your community about the reasons for participating here].
[List all dignitaries and guests] will be on hand at [insert name of school] to meet the media, and we invite you to
get out your walking shoes and join us in the celebration. [Enter location details here.]
This year [XX] schools in [insert name of community] are participating in the event. Each year, millions of
children, parents, and community leaders around the world join together to celebrate the simple yet healthy,
community-building, environmentally sound practice of walking to school.
In Ontario, the IWALK event is part of a larger active transportation initiative called Active and Safe Routes to
School (ASRTS), organized by the Green Communities Association. ASRTS engages young students in active
transportation such as walking, biking, and in-line skating as a healthy, sustainable way to get around. This
program was launched in 1996 following the success of similar programs in the UK, Australia, and the US in
creating a healthy way for families to start their day as part of a healthy community. The ASRTS program and the
Walk to School Day address province-wide concerns about the health of our children and climate change issues,
including:
• Obesity and inactivity, particularly among children, has been identified by the Federal Health Minister as one
of the nation’s major public health challenges and one of the principal drivers of health-care spending (The
Globe and Mail, April 16, 2002).
• Physical activity improves self-esteem, enhances psychological well-being and academic performance,
overcomes boredom, and provides positive leisure pursuits; yet two-thirds of Canadian children don’t get the
30-60 minutes of daily physical activity required for healthy development (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle
Research Institute, 1997), and fewer than half of Canadian children walk to school (Go for Green, 1998).
• Passenger transportation accounts for 45% of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the average Canadian
family. By reducing the number of short car trips (i.e. the ride to school), Canadian families can take personal
action to slow climate change (Canadian Climate Change Centre, 1993).
IWALK provides families and communities with the chance to discover the simple joy of walking to school
together. [Insert a quotation from a participant about the benefits of IWALK here.]
On Wednesday, October 2, students across Ontario and Canada are walking to school to start their day in a healthy
way. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated the positive effects that daily physical activity has on improving self-
esteem and academic achievement. With reports of obesity among Canadians on the rise, it is crucial that we help
our children establish healthy habits that will last a lifetime, such as walking to school.
[Name of community] hopes that you can join us in demonstrating our commitment to active modes of
transportation on [insert date].
(Name and phone number of available spokesperson who can answer media questions) is available for interviews.
Please also refer to (your organization’s website, if applicable) and www.iwalktoschool.org, for more information
about this event, the participants, and the organizations behind it.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
2. Create a PSA (Public Service Announcement)
for your local radio and TV stations.
saferoutestoschool.ca
Sample Radio Public Service Announcement #1 (45 seconds)
When was the last time you felt happy and energized in the morning?
It was probably after doing some form of exercise. Exercise causes the
brain to release endorphins that give us happy moods and boosts our
self-esteem and psychological well-being. Despite the many benefits
however, our children have fewer opportunities for physical activity and
are increasingly becoming overweight. This is why the walk to school is
so important!
By walking regularly to and from school, children can spend quality
time with their parents or older siblings while also learning to be
healthy and fit. On International Walk to School Day join millions of
parents, students and school staff across Canada and around the world in
International Walk to School Day. Plan to get your children to school on
(insert date) through ACTIVE transportation!
saferoutestoschool.ca
Sample Radio Public Service Announcement #2 (35 seconds)
Morning traffic congestion around school zones is an unpleasant but
common sight in Ontario. Not only does it create dangerous situations for
nearby pedestrians and cyclists, it is also bad for the environment. Cars
are one of the largest single sources of greenhouse gases contributing to
climate change and smog in our cities.
Every weekday, millions of Canadian children are DRIVEN short,
walkable distances to their neighbourhood schools. Don’t become a
statistic! On (insert date) join millions of parents, students and school
staff across Canada and around the world in International Walk to School
Day. Clear the air by walking there!
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The Green Communities Association
3. Display Walk to School Day Posters and Banners
WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
• Display posters in your local libraries, community centres and other
public places. Ask that residents take extra care around your school. The
sample below has been designed so that children can colour it and keep
it on their fridge to act as a reminder of the event. Schools could display
these posters around the community too. A selection of posters can be
found on our Web site at www.saferoutestoschool.ca as follows:
• 8.5” x 11” colouring sheet
• 8.5” x 11” promotional poster
PROMOTE
• 11” x 17” full colour poster
saferoutestoschool.ca
It’s Really Cool to Walk to School!
• Working as a class, design banners that can be displayed prominently
outside your school.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
4. Talk it Up, Write it Down and Sing It Out!
• Encourage students to talk about their event with their families. Help them to do this by
having a class, or school assembly on safety, or neighbourhood mapping.
• Encourage students to write poems and songs about walking to school and perform
them on the school’s PA system or at an assembly.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND
R: WALKING TO SCHOOL – START YOUR DAY
FOU
STEP IN A HEALTHY WAY!
The health of our planet and the health of our children are
inextricably linked. The quality of the air that we breathe directly
affects the quality of our children’s health. Poor air quality can trigger
respiratory illnesses which tend to command a less active lifestyle
leading to a reduced quality of life. This is where walking to school,
instead of driving, can help improve the quality of our air and reduce
the effects of climate change.
Climate change is already having significant impacts in Canada
and around the world, including extreme weather conditions, such
as flooding, drought and smog. Parents actively contribute to the
production of smog when they drive their children short distances
(i.e. to school). High levels of smog can make your eyes itchy,
your nose and throat feel sore, and your breathing heavy. If you
already have asthma, bronchitis or allergies, smog can make these
conditions even worse.
We are Hilson Don’t You Know
We’re the best school in Ontario!
Hilson Avenue P.S., Ottawa
Everyone in our school tries to walk for a healthy
body and safer streets. I like walking to school
with my friends because we could talk. Walking
is way better than riding in a car because walking
is more fun than getting a ride.
Morton Way P.S., Brampton
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The Green Communities Association
Walking to school not only clears the air but the exercise itself helps in children’s
developmental growth.
Time and time again, studies demonstrate that high grades and performance
on cognitive measures are consistently associated with high levels of physical
activity (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute). However, regular
physical activity at school is no longer the norm. As a result, students are
increasingly becoming overweight and risk developing heart disease, type II
diabetes and other lifestyle diseases in later life. With over just a third of children
and youth meeting the physical activity guidelines for optimal growth and healthy
development, it is clear to see the importance of helping them establish lifelong
healthy habits, such as walking to school.
Polar Bears Do Not Like Cars
Walking to school can help save polar bears! How? Walking instead
of driving helps slow down global warming so that the Arctic ice floes
from which the bears hunt and feed do not melt and disappear.
Visit www.wwf.ca/en/PolarBearCentral for more details.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
Fun Games and Ideas To Learn More
CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND
About Walking to School and Your Health
WALKING TO SCHOOL –
Here are some ideas to help your students learn how walking and
exercise can be good for their bodies and minds. These ideas can be
IN A HEALTHY WAY!
adapted to the Ontario curriculum.
START YOUR DAY
Biology
Trace an outline of a student’s body using kraft paper and have
the class identify parts of the body that walking helps to improve
(e.g. healthy heart, strong bones, alert mind) by drawing them on the
paper.
Alternatively, students can draw different parts of the body that
walking helps to strengthen. They can then display their artwork by
wearing it on Walk to School Day.
General
Memory game with cards – have each student draw two copies of a
picture about walking (e.g. a shoe, a sidewalk, a bicycle, a rollerblade,
a pet) on thick paper that are cut like cards in a deck. Then, use the
cards to play the memory game by turning them all over and have
students take turns to get as many pairs as possible.
Safety
The Blazing Trails Through the Urban Jungle Mapping Booklet - can be used to
educate Grades 4 to 6 students about the transportation hazards on their way to school,
and how to overcome them (refer to sample at the back of this guide).
Injury prevention
Join the Elmer the Safety Elephant Club at www.elmer.ca - for ideas on how to teach
children traffic safety. Click on the “Parents and Teachers” icon for materials to teach
traffic safety when walking to school. Schools can toreceive newsletters with lots of
safety tips, puzzles, games, and the chance to win some great prizes.
Music Walk Walk Walk Your Feet (sung
to the tune of “Row, Row, Row
Change the lyrics of a popular children’s song Your Boat”
by relating it to walking and being healthy. Students
Walk, walk, walk your feet
can sing this as they walk to school on Walk to
Gently down the street
School Day. Check out www.theteachersguide.com/ Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
ChildrensSongs.htm for more children’s songs Walking’s such a treat!
We hope that these games will be an inspiration to
teach your students more about the link between their choice to walk to school and the
health of our planet to that of their own.
32
The Green Communities Association
IVE : KEEP TRACK OF PARTICIPATION
ST EP F AND RESULTS
It is important to keep track of how successful your event is, from the perspective of fewer vehicles around the
school to the perceptions of students, parents and school staff. To make it easier you will find a Walk to School
Day Evaluation Form on our Web site at www.saferoutestoschool.ca. Complete it electronically or print it off and
send it to us. We always love to receive any art, photos or media clips related to IWALK so don’t be shy, send
them in. For photos we must have the Principal’s permission to use them.
SECTION ONE:
Name of school: School Principal: _________________________
School District: Contact Person:
Position at school:
Phone: Fax:
Email:
Number of students enrolled in school:
Number of students participating in IWALK 2002:
Percentage of students participating in IWALK 2002:
Will your school participate in International Walk to School Day next year?
Yes No
Please tell us why or why not:
SECTION TWO:
Did you organize pre-event activities? If so, what were they:
Did you have any media coverage at your school? Please mail press clippings
if available.
Please describe:
Did any guest “walkers” participate with your school on October 2nd, 2001
(e.g. Mayor, councillors, health professionals, police, local celebrities or
athletes, etc.)?
If so, who were they:
Can you provide us with some feedback on your school’s contribution to the event?
a) Time spent on organizing your Walk to School Day event: ____ hours
b) Number of people who were involved:
c) Contributions of photocopying, refreshments, etc:
How useful were these Walk to School Day organizing materials to your school?
Thank you for filling out this feedback form.
33
It's really cool to School name: It's really cool to School name:
walk to school! walk to school!
Student's name: Student's name:
Student's age: Student's grade: Student's age: Student's grade:
I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will
do my best to walk to school on other days, too. do my best to walk to school on other days, too.
Student's signature: Student's signature:
It's really cool to School name: It's really cool to School name:
walk to school! walk to school!
Student's name: Student's name:
Student's age: Student's grade: Student's age: Student's grade:
I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will
do my best to walk to school on other days, too. do my best to walk to school on other days, too.
Student's signature: Student's signature:
It's really cool to School name: It's really cool to School name:
walk to school! walk to school!
Student's name: Student's name:
Student's age: Student's grade: Student's age: Student's grade:
I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will
do my best to walk to school on other days, too. do my best to walk to school on other days, too.
Student's signature: Student's signature:
It's really cool to School name: It's really cool to School name:
walk to school! walk to school!
Student's name: Student's name:
Student's age: Student's grade: Student's age: Student's grade:
I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will I pledge that today, I walked to school. I will
do my best to walk to school on other days, too. do my best to walk to school on other days, too.
Student's signature: Student's signature:
saferoutestoschool.ca
The Green Communities Association
WALKING/
WEDNESDAY
4.2 WHEELING WEDNESDAYS
WALKING
Whatever name your school gives it, the idea is to designate
one day per month or one day per week as a Walk to School
Day, starting right after International Walk to School Day
in October. Families do not need to make a commitment
to walk every day, just on walk to school days, giving them
opportunities to slowly break the driving habit and adjust their
schedules accordingly.
Because we work closely with many Public Health Units on
the ASRTS program we have incorporated many links to
health and fitness. One such link is the Trans Canada Walking
Challenge, already implemented in many Ontario schools.
In addition to encouraging students
and their families to walk to school,
the Trans Canada Walking Challenge
engages those students who travel to
school on school buses or live too far to
walk or bike. Here’s how it works ….
Weekly Walk to School Days:
Pick one day a week for students to
walk to and from school. It could be
a Trekking Tuesday, a Walking/
Wheeling Wednesday or even a
Phys. Ed. Friday!
Keep track of the number of students
who walk on this day by using the Teacher Sign-in sheet
provided. To calculate the school total, add all participating
classes to get the total number of students who walked (or
biked, bladed, hopped or skipped) to school.
If your school wants to track the number of kilometres
travelled by the students who walk to school there are several
ways to do this:
• Calculate an average distance from home to school for
each student, e.g. average distance is .5 kilometre.
• Using the Cross Canada Walking Map provided in this
guide, and the distances between Canadian cities shown
below, calculate a symbolic distance travelled by the
students.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
To encourage participation and add some competitive spirit, your school
WEDNESDAY
can make a “golden shoe award” out of an old sneaker that is spray-
painted gold. This prestigious award can go to the class with the highest
WALKING
percentage of walkers for the month.
Kilometre Club:
During recess or lunch, students walk or jog around the schoolyard
or local park. The school needs to determine the distance of one
lap so students know how many times they need to travel before
completing one kilometre. Students should be encouraged to complete
as many kilometres as they are physically able. There should be adult
supervision of the students, either by a teacher or volunteer parent.
Popsicle sticks can be used as a method to track the number of
kilometres completed by students. Each student receives one popsicle
stick for every kilometre completed.
Back in the classroom, students count the popsicle sticks collected by
the entire class to get the total kilometers traveled. Students may wish
to keep their own personal log of kilometres traveled.
36
saferoutestoschool.ca
CROSS CANADA WALKING MAP
Use the Cross Canada Walking Map as a motivation for students to walk to and
from school. A copy is provided with this guide. Here are the official highway
distances between major Canadian cities:
FROM TO DISTANC
E IN KM
St. John's, Newfoundland Charlottetown, P.E.I. 1294
Charlottetown, P.E.I. Halifax, Nova Scotia 232
Halifax, Nova Scotia Fredericton, New Brunswick 346
Fredericton, New Brunswick Quebec City, P.Q. 586
Quebec City, P.Q. Montreal, P.Q. 270
Montreal, P.Q. Toronto, Ontario 539
Toronto, Ontario Thunder Bay, Ontario 1384
Thunder Bay, Ontario Winnipeg, Manitoba 715
Winnipeg, Manitoba Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 829
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Regina, Saskatchewan 257
Regina, Saskatchewan Calgary, Alberta 764
Calgary, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta 299
Edmonton, Alberta Vancouver, British Columbia 1244
Vancouver, British Columbia Victoria, British Columbia 66
Victoria, British Columbia Whitehorse, Yukon Territory 2763
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Yellowknife, North West 2704
Territories
Yellowknife, North West Iqaluit, Nunavut 2200
Territories
It's 7428 kilometres from St. John's Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia.
saferoutestoschool.ca
STUDENT TRAVEL LOG
Name: ________________________ School: ________________________
Grade: _________ I live ______ blocks from the school
REMEMBER: Be safe when you walk--always walk with friends or a responsible adult. When
walking to and from the school remember Elmer The Safety Elephant's poem:
Look all ways
Before you cross the street
Use your eyes and ears
Before you use your feet
Mark off the days you walk to school and home. If your school has a Kilometre Club, fill in
the number of kilometres you complete each week.
Date Yes, I walked to Yes, I walked home # kilometres I
school from school completed in the
Kilometre Club
Students who participate regularly in the Walk to School program or the Kilometre
Club, or both, can send their completed Travel Logs to (local Health Unit) and we
will send you a certificate of achievement!
saferoutestoschool.ca
Notice to Teachers
1. Teachers – Would you please do a quick tally of your students to see how many
walked to school this morning?
Teacher _________________________________
Grade
Total number of students in your class today
How many of your students walked to school today
How many of your students walked to school yesterday
these return these forms folders to be sent to the
Please returnPleaseforms in your attendanceto the office.
office in the morning. Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
The Walking Wednesday flyer shown below, created for the ASRTS program in
Kitchener-Waterloo, (and available on our Web site at www.saferoutestoschool.ca)
can be modified to suit your school.
Walking Wednesdays
saferoutestoschool.ca
Having trouble walking to school as often as you’d like to?
Well here’s a good idea! Pick Wednesdays as your walking day! Plan ahead!
Find a friend, classmate or parent to walk or bicycle with.
Not driving to school gives you healthy exercise, keeps the air we breathe cleaner,
and keeps traffic congestion away from schools.
=
An average car makes as much air pollution in one year
as 2 elephants weigh!!
Don’t add to that air pollution – if you can do so safely, choose an active, clean,
green way to get to and from school!
Planet earth is getting hotter and animals are facing extinction.
Do your part if you can!
And then we’ll all have a healthy cleaner, greener planet in our future!
40
The Green Communities Association
saferoutestoschool.ca
Walking & Wheeling Wednesdays:
SUCCESS STORIES
WALKING WEDNESDAY TRANS CANADA CHALLENGE
MAKING EVERY DAY WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
AT MAURICE CODY P.S. AND MORTON WAY P.S
Maurice Cody P.S. students started
their original walk from St. John’s,
Newfoundland, to Vancouver, British
Columbia, on Walk to School Day
1999. They followed the route of the
Trans Canada Highway and they
arrived at their destination on June 5,
2000 (Clean Air Day).
This school has gone on to walk
across North America by walking to
school.
Here’s how it works at Maurice Cody:
Every Wednesday is Walk to School Day at Maurice Cody and the distances
traveled on foot by all students are collected for each class and then calculated for
the entire school. The total distance is then marked on their map of Canada in the
hallway of the school to keep track of progress.
Families who are unable to walk to school are encouraged to participate by walking
a distance of at least two blocks.
Students are asked it complete
paper ‘shoes’ with their reasons
for walking to school. There are
various themes throughout the year
including healthy hearts, climate
change, safety, neighbourhoods,
reducing pollution and physical
activity. The school was able to
purchase a heart monitor which
the students use, with adult
supervision, to compare their active
to inactive heart rate.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
saferoutestoschool.ca
At Morton Way Public School in Brampton, Ontario, Physical
Education Teacher Kirstin Schwass has led an inspirational Walking
Wednesday program since 1999. The impetus for the school project
stemmed from concerns about children’s health and physical activity
levels. The Parent Council wrote in the school newsletter: “All our children
want to walk. Please try to find a neighbour or a group of friends for your
child to walk with if you are unable to walk with him/her.”
Here how it works
at Morton Way:
• PA announcements
remind students each
Tuesday morning that
Walking Wednesday Morton Way’s Walk to
is tomorrow. They are encouraged to “Walk to Win” School poster is proudly
healthy bodies, cleaner air and safer streets (and displayed outside their
the chance to win a prize!). school.
• The few students that are unable to walk to school
are encouraged to walk or jog the half kilometre
circuit of the school playground.
• Each class that achieves 100% student participation receives a Golden
Shoe certificate to display on their door, and each student receives a “Big
Foot” candy treat. The names of these classes are posted on the “Walking
Wall of Fame” under “100% Participation” and the classes are entered into a
draw for a popcorn party that month.
• Every student that walks to school (or completes the school circuit) receives
a ballot to win a prize in the school-wide monthly draw, which takes place
at the school assembly. Prizes are kept simple and inexpensive; items like
lunch bags, posters, water bottles, caps or other donated items.
• The number of walkers are tracked by class and these are graphed and
displayed on the school’s Walking Wall in the lobby for all to see. Morton
Way also tracks progress on their Cross Canada Walking Map
Kirstin sums up Morton Way’s
Walking Program:
“The students who walk to school
feel proud,
ool makes me
are very proud of themselves
ch
because they know it is the right
Walking to s t it very loud
,
thing to do. We know that the I want to shou family too,
wit h friends and
You can walk cise for you?
program is a success when the
young students are walking,
it is good exer
because we are mobilizing Did you know
the community. Their parents, lic School
ent, Morton Way Pub
grandparents or care-givers Grade 4 stud
will be walking with them. The
message is getting home that the
children want to walk!”
42
The Green Communities Association
saferoutestoschool.ca
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WALKABOUT
4.3 An Important First Step
in Designing a Safe Walk to School Program
The following process is used by the Active & Safe Routes to School
(ASRTS) program as a method to identify the specific transportation
and safety issues at school sites and to prepare a plan of action to
deal with the identified issues. Input to this document has also been
provided by the Way to Go! School Program in British Columbia.
Greenest City developed this process in its Toronto program. Other
jurisdictions use similar processes and we have provided references
to some of these.
Why conduct a Neighbourhood Walkabout? Identify the community stakeholders
As you start work on your ASRTS project it is a Start by identifying the stakeholders in your school
good idea to have a clear understanding of the community that can help you to implement a
issues you are attempting to address. The most successful ASRTS program. This list is provided
common reasons for schools wanting to implement as a guide. In some jurisdictions there will be
an ASRTS program are: differences based on structures of school districts,
• traffic congestion around the school that who handles crossing guards, etc. You should
makes it unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists adapt this list to suit your own circumstances.
• heavy traffic volumes and/or excessive speeds
by motorists on streets around or near the Stakeholders may include:
school, making the journey to school unsafe • school administration (Principal, Vice-Principal
• children who are walking alone and may be and/or Teacher)
victims of bullying or harassment, and are • parents and caregivers
vulnerable to abduction • local police - many schools have liaison officers
or traffic officers assigned to them
What you want to end up with is a good written • school trustee
description of the problem(s), aided visually with • local city or town councillor
area maps. Maps can be obtained through the • traffic engineer for your area
School Board or from your local Transportation • representative from the local health unit
Engineer. For example, what are the current • a representative from the school board or
parking allowances and restrictions, where district, to address busing issues or school site
does conflict between pedestrians/cyclists and access and design
vehicles occur and why is this happening. Out of • students, particularly if student patrollers are
this an action plan that everyone agrees to can utilized at the school site or have been involved
be developed. Be sure to document who will do in their own school site studies
what and when. Agreed to timelines and follow-up • local resident’s groups if conflict has arisen as
meetings keep everyone on track. a result of traffic congestion interfering with the
flow of local traffic or residential parking
It is also important to remember that plans can
change so you need to build in some flexibility to Organize a neighbourhood walkabout
your program. A neighbourhood walkabout helps to identify and
understand the safety issues around the school
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
through direct observation of the problems. The • Maintenance of walkways, i.e. snow and
walkabout should be organized to coincide with ice removed
pick-up or drop-off at the school. All stakeholders • Alternate school grounds access routes
should be present and participate in the walkabout. • Bicycle facilities
Determine the scope of the walkabout before you • Bike racks
begin, i.e. the area immediately surrounding the • Bike paths or lanes
school or do you also need to investigate safety • Potential for conflict with vehicles
concerns further away. • Location of School Bus Loading Zone, if
applicable
Start by having the Principal or Parent • Where do students wait for the buses; what
representative give an overview of the issues and type of supervision is employed
update the group on any history, i.e. recent 24 hour • Number of buses, vans and handicapped
traffic/volume counts, results of previous traffic vehicles employed
studies, what’s been tried in the past, etc. Be sure • Location of garbage dumpsters and other
to allow a few minutes for introductions to allow for school maintenance equipment
identification of stakeholders. • Emergency vehicle access
Ask the attendees of the walkabout to sign in, Areas Surrounding School Site:
giving their relevant contact information for future • Volume and speed of traffic on surrounding
reference and for distribution of minutes, etc. Before streets - perceived and real - obtain latest 24
you begin, designate someone to take minutes of hour counts
the discussion, and encourage everyone to take • Are there sidewalks? How far do they extend
their own notes of their observations to help with around the school and the surrounding
the discussion later. community?
• Pedestrian crossing devices present and
Some things to consider utilized
during a walkabout. (The • Number and position of bus/student patrollers
following list is adapted (if any-are they needed)
from Parent Safety Patrol • Sight distances of school crossings to road
Information Package, curves and bus zones
Parent Safety Patrol • Number and position of adult crossing guards
(Whitby), Whitby Community • Placement of school crossings in relation to
Police Office.) Your guide driveways and bus loading zones
should be “Safety over • Timing of traffic lights
Convenience”: • On-street signs
• Providing a “Hand to Hand” area where parents
School Site: of JK and SK students can take their children
• The number of arrival and dismissal times at into the school
school
• School entrances for kindergarten students Non-traffic related items to consider
• Teacher parking area/available visitor parking • Types of buildings surrounding school:
• Potential for vehicle and pedestrian conflict residential, commercial, industrial
• Size and design of parking lot. Is traffic flow • Location of other public spaces near school:
clearly signed? parks, community centres, libraries, churches
• Pavement markings on the parking lot • Number of shade trees on streets
• Parking and driving behaviour of driving • Green space vs. concrete space
parents • Graffiti on buildings
• Walking paths to the school • Physical state of the sidewalks
• Where are the access points for students • Size of the sidewalks
• Potential for conflict with vehicles • Garbage along the routes to school
• Lighting along walkways • Obstructions on the sidewalks
44
The Green Communities Association
• Block Parent or Neighbourhood Watch languages (Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese
community - if so, where are Block Parents and Hmong). Copies can be obtained through
located California’s Walk a Child to School Day
Headquarters, toll-free 877-4-Safe-Rt or email
There are a variety of checklists that have been at: SafeRt@jba-cht.com
prepared by other Safe Routes to School programs. • The Safe Routes to School program in the
We have provided the names of some below. They United Kingdom, organized by SUSTRANS, has
may assist you in preparing a neighbourhood excellent student walkability questionnaires.
walkabout component for your program: These have been designed for students of all
ages, including high school. Refer to Frequently
• Walkable America Checklist - available at Asked Questions on www.sustrans.org.uk/
www.nsc.org/walkable.htm. An excellent f_srs.htm.
resource, available in both hardcopy and from
their Web site. It provides information for a Document Findings and Report Back
parent or teacher to take a walk with a child Add your findings from the walkabout to the
and assess together the walkability of their map provided. Request that the Transportation
neighbourhood. It also contains a walkability Engineer include these findings in the master map.
rating scale and provides advise on how to get It may also be useful to provide photographs and
identified problems resolved. a short report along with the map that outlines the
• The Safe Routes to School program in problems identified and the proposed solutions.
California, organized by the California Dept. Decide who will create this report and when it will
of Health Services, has prepared a Walkability be ready. Distribute a copy of the report, photos
Checklist specifically for students to complete and map to all the walkabout participants.
and they have had it translated into four
Success Stories:
At Holy Cross Catholic School in East York, Ontario, the issue was poor air quality from traffic exhaust entering
the parking lot level kindergarten windows. The traffic safety audit resulted in the installation of a chain link fence
along the entire length of the parking lot. The fence prevents vehicles from parking next to the school thereby
eliminating the indoor air quality problems, and also provides a safe route for students to cross the parking area.
The focus on traffic safety at Allenby Public School in Toronto, Ontario, resulted in the area being included in an
Ontario pilot project referred to as Community Safety Zones.
The parent organized Safety Committee worked closely with
the local police, their councillors and Toronto Transportation
representatives to improve the safety of students travelling to
and from school. Some of the changes made as a result of
the Safety Zone include:
• Lowering the speed on Avenue Road, a major arterial road
into downtown Toronto, from 50 km/hour to 40 km/hour during
school drop off and pick up times.
• Moving pedestrian crossing areas to safer spots on the two
residential streets bordering both sides of the school.
• Increasing the timing of traffic lights on Avenue Road and St.
Clements Avenue to allow pedestrians longer to cross the road.
• Improving traffic signs around the school.
• Restricting parking in unsafe areas. Changes made to a T-intersection in front of Bowmore Public
School in Toronto to increase the visibility of pedestrians
• Installing designated drop-off only areas on both sides of the
school.
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ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
Praise for Neighbourhood Walkabouts:
According to the Principal at St. Michael’s Catholic School in
Toronto, “the walkabout was organized to deal with the largely
urban community safety issues around: homeless people, drug
dealers, lack of lighting, safety in the underground parking,
restoration of the play structures to meet CSA code and
the determination of a school bus loading zone. As a result
of our City Councillor’s intervention, many of these issues
were resolved. The neighbourhood walkabout organized by
the school board and Greenest City has been a successful
vehicle to implement the changes needed here at Praise for
Neighbourhood Walkabouts:
According to the Principal at St. Michael’s Catholic School in
Toronto, “the walkabout was organized to deal with the largely
urban community safety issues around: homeless people, drug
dealers, lack of lighting, safety in the underground parking,
restoration of the play structures to meet CSA code and the
determination of a school bus loading zone. As a result of our City Councillor’s intervention, many of
these issues were resolved. The neighbourhood walkabout organized by the school board and Greenest
City has been a successful vehicle to implement the changes needed here at our site.”
The Vice-Principal at St. Roch Catholic School in North York, Ontario, commented: “The parents and
staff were concerned about a child being hit in the parking lot with the sheer volume and erratic flow
of traffic. The traffic safety audit resulted in a redesign of the parking lot, correction of traffic markings
and a plan for a drop off and pick up zone. A survey to identify the barriers to walking found the three
biggest parental concerns to be: traffic volume, harassment/bullying and possibility of abduction. Since
St. Roch introduced “Walking Wednesdays” and the “Golden Shoe Award”, which goes to the class with
the highest percent of students participating, children have been begging their parents to walk, not drive,
them to school. The enthusiasm has been high:
270 children participated in “Walking Wednesday”
on the 2nd Wednesday of the weekly program.
The school continues to work with police and city
representatives to make it safe to walk to school.”
Elmer says “Slow down
in school zones.”
46
4.4 No Idling at School
In the spring of 2000, we launched a province-wide No Idling at School
project as part of our Active & Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program. This
user-friendly, comprehensive toolkit has been designed to assist schools
interested in reducing vehicle idling in their community. The project has been
hugely successful, with over 1,000 kits distributed during the first year. Positive
environmental benefits have been realized including avoiding the release of
210.5 tonnes of CO2e emissions. That is the equivalent to 26,600 hours of
reduced idling or running 10 cars for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for
almost four months!
“Our school was delighted to get the No Idling at School package. No
charge for good resources that were useful. We liked having a contact
person at Greenest City if we needed help.”
“Great program! Keep it going all year round. It’s easily done.”
The No Idling at School kit is still available to schools but we have reproduced
many of the inserts here, as well as providing them on our Web site at
www.saferoutestoschool.ca. We have also provided you with 25 No Idling
information cards and 25 No Idling electro-static stickers.
Sample sticker, available from
http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling/
R emember t he R ul e?
NO
saferoutestoschool.ca
Idling at School
A P R OJ E CT OF T HE
ACT I V E & S AF E R OUT E S TO S CHOOL P R OGR AM
I s there a line-up of vehicles, with engines idling, out-
side of your school at drop-off and pick-up times?
Are you concerned that these idling vehicles are harming To request a No I dling at S chool kit for your school, com-
the air quality around your school, as well as the vulnerable plete the fax-back portion of this flyer below or send us an
lungs of the students? email to asrts@sympatico.ca
Would you like ideas on how to encourage the drivers of
these vehicles to turn their engines off while waiting at
the school?
T he No I dling at S chool project is funded by: the Ontario Ministry of E nvironment, Toronto Atmospheric F und,
Ontario Trillium F oundation, L aidlaw F oundation, Ontario Community F oundation.
We thank the following organizations for their support: L UR A Consulting/McK enzie-Mohr Associates;
Natural R esources Canada; City of Toronto, Department of P ublic Health and Works and E mergency S ervices; Ontario
Ministry of E nvironment's Drive Clean P rogram.
FAX TO: ( 416) 488-2296
Y E S , please mail our school a No I dling at S chool kit today!
S chool Name:
S chool P hone # : S chool F ax # :
S chool Address:
Contact P erson: R elationship to S chool:
Contact E mail Address:
saferoutestoschool.ca
NO Idling at School
B ackground S heet A P R OJ E CT OF T HE
ACT I V E & S AF E R OUT E S TO S CHOOL P R OGR AM
A few facts about engine idling:
Why do so many drivers keep their engines running while they are stopped? R ecent market research found the following
most common reasons:
· Warming up the car
· Waiting for someone
· Doing an errand
Other reasons, reported by dr ivers, for leaving their engines running include:
· P ersonal comfort
· L istening to the radio
· P arking illegally
· Convenience
Many drivers also mistakenly believe that turning off their engines for a shor t stop is more harmful to their car than leaving
the engine running.
T he truth and consequences of engine idling:
· I t wastes fuel: Three percent of Ontar io's fuel is wasted by idling.An idling gas engine burns about 3.5 litres an hour.
Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine!
· I t wastes money: $1.8 million of fuel is idled away by Canadians ever y day.
· I t contributes to reduced quality of our air: An idling engine produces twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine
in motion, significantly contributing to local air pollution.
· I t contributes to global climate change: I dling engines account for 8 million kilograms of greenhouse gas ( GHG)
emissions per day. P assenger transportation is responsible for 18% of Canada's total GHG emissions.
· I t is harmful to your engine: An idling engine is not operating at its peak temperature, which means fuel combustion
is incomplete.S oot deposits can accumulate on cylinder walls leading to oil contamination and damaged components.
I dling, while warming an engine, does not warm the wheel bearings, steering, transmission and tires--only
driving does this.
HE AL T H AL E R T: Children are particular ly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults and
inhale more air per pound of body weight. S mog levels tend to be worse in the late afternoon,precisely when dr iving
parents accumulate around the school yard. This glut of idling engines contributes to the bubble of smog that engulfs the
school and into which rush excited and active children.
Many people believe that they are protected from air pollution if they remain inside their vehicles.Not so according to a
report by the I nternational Center for Technology Assessment ( CT A) . CT A found that exposure to most auto pollutants,
including volatile organic compounds ( V OCs) and carbon monoxide ( CO) , is much higher inside vehicles than at the road-
side.V OCs and CO are linked to serious health problems--like respiratory irritation and cancer--and are known to shorten
life ( www.icta.org) . The highest exposure occurs when sitti ng in traffic congestion on highways or in a line-up of idling
vehicles at a transit stop or outside of a school.
B ecome an idle-free motorist Today's modern engines require no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up,
even on winter days. Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine.I f your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic starter, try to avoid using it until just prior to boarding the vehicle.When you are dropping off or picki ng up
your children at school, please stop in a safe, legal parking space and turn off your engine. Then safely walk your children
to and from the school.
Help to make your school an idle-free zone. We'll all breathe a little easier.
S ources: L UR A Consulti ng/McK enzie-Mohr Associates; Natural R esources Canada; City of Toronto, Department of P ublic Health and Works and E mergency S ervices;
Canadian Automobile Association; Health Canada; Ontario Ministry of E nvironment; I nternational Center for Technology Assessment.
saferoutestoschool.ca
S UGGE S T E D ACT I V I T I E S F OR
NO I DL I NG AT S CHOOL P R OJ E CT S
S tart small and keep it simple. Don't try to change the behaviour of ever y driving parent at your school all at once
because it likely won't work. P lan for a 30-40% reduction in the number of idling vehicles and you'll be off to a great
start. R emember that some people respond to change faster than others.
T he simple approach
The easiest approach is to simply update parents about the No I dling at S chool project through your school newsletter
and send home the information card with students--a sample card is provided in this kit. S ome parents will respond to
this simple measure by turning off their engines.I nclusion of the information card adds additional credence to your
campaign and will give drivers compelling reasons to turn their engines off.
Use of Commitment will increase your prospects for success
Community B ased S ocial Marketing( 1) techniques, like asking drivers to commit to less idling, have been pr oven to be
extremely successful. To try this approach follow these steps:
- Notify parents through your school newsletter of the No I dling at S chool project. Ask them to turn off their engines
at school and to be prepared to make a personal commitment.Give them the dates you've picked, and inform them
that volunteers ( or students) will be approaching them to ask for their commitment to turn off their engines.
- Over the cour se of one week, using volunteer parents, or a class of senior students with teacher supervision, hand out
the information card along with the F or Our Air sticker to parents who are waiting at the school in their vehicles--
see the sample F or Our Air sticker in this kit.
- Ask them to display the sticker in their car window as a reminder to themselves to turn off their engine and a
message to others that they don't idle.
- You can keep track of the number of drivers that take the stickers by either counting the stick ers, or by having the
volunteers complete a commitment sheet ( refer to the sample Commitment S heet in this kit) .
No I dling Zone
S tudents can get i nvolved in the project in other ways, too. Many schools allow students to make large banners or signs
in art class that can be displayed on the fences around the school where drivers congregate. The banners or signs act as
a constant reminder to parents not to idle their engines, and the students can feel proud knowing they are contributing
to this positive behaviour change.
S ome municipalities have idling control bylaws and will pr ovide the school with a bylaw sign. Check with your local
municipality to see if your community has such a by-law.
Observation to Determine Compliance
I f your school wants to keep a record of how many drivers are tur ning off their engines, you can do a baseline measure-
ment at the start of the project and then periodically check results against the baseline. To do this:
- Ask parent volunteers, or senior students with teacher supervision, to observe the drivers around the school and to
complete the baseline data collection record--sample provided in this kit. This can be done several times over the
period of a week so you get a really good idea of how many parents idle their vehicles at the school. The best time to
do this is when idling is most likely to occur, usually at the end of the school day.
- Using the information card or commitment approach, as described above, implement your No I dling at S chool program.
- After several weeks you can re-do the observations and see if the number of vehicles idling their engines has decreased.
These sorts of observation exercises not only pr ovide you with tangible results of your project but also provide students
with hands-on experience in data collection and analytical skills.
( 1) McK enzie-Mohr D. & Smith, W. ( 1999) . Fostering sustainable behaviour: An introduction to Community-based social marketing.
,
Gabriola I sland, B .C.; New S ociety. www.cbsm.com
saferoutestoschool.ca
Teacher's Note: Ontario Curriculum Links
Keep us informed of your projects.
We would really like to hear about your No Idling at School projects. We’d like to know how
you implemented your project, what resources you found most useful, and if the project was
successful in getting drivers to turn off their engines. We can then relay this information back to
decision-makers and, as well, work to improve the program.
Thank you for helping us create clean air.
saferoutestoschool.ca
ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
NO IDLING AT SCHOOL
saferoutestoschool.ca
IDEAS FROM SCHOOLS
Maurice Cody Public School in Toronto declared the area around their school an idle-free
zone. Students and parents painted banners and hung them on the fences around the school.
E.T. Crowle Public School in Markham held a Clean Air Court on Clean Air Day 2000. This
event marked the celebration of their successful Walking Wednesday and Kilometre Club
activities throughout the school year. Students and parents performed this innovative skit to all
the school’s students. They involved smoking, tree removal and littering as well as idling and
driving to school. Here is an excerpt from their script:
JUDGE: Bailiff, bring forth the next offender. (Bailiff brings up
Idling Irene)
JUDGE: State your name for the record.
IDLING IRENE: Idling Irene, driving‛s my scene!
JUDGE: Clerk, please read the charge against Idling Irene
CLERK: Idling Irene, you are charged with driving your children
back and forth to school everyday when you live next
door to the school and then idling your car while you wait
to pick your children up.
JUDGE: Idling Irene, how do you plead?
IDLING IRENE: Not Guilty.
PROSECUTOR: Where do you live?
52
The Green Communities Association
IDLING IRENE: Next door to the school.
PROSECUTOR: And you drive your children to and from school every
day?
IDLING IRENE: Yes, and at lunch too!
PROSECUTOR: How long do you leave your car running while waiting for
your children?
IDLING IRENE: Oh, 10-15 minutes. I usually get the newspaper read,
file my nails and listen to the radio talk shows. The
air conditioner in the car doesn‛t work if the car isn‛t
running?
JUDGE: Are there any witnesses?
WITNESS: I witnessed everything!
JUDGE: Jury, you have heard the evidence against Idling Irene,
what is your verdict?
JURY: GUILTY!
JUDGE: This is one of the worst offences against clean air we
have ever seen!
Transportation is one of the single largest sources of air
pollution in Ontario and is responsible for a big chunk of
the bad greenhouse gases that are affecting our climate.
There is no such thing as a ‘clean air car‛ except one that
is never turned on! You will hand over your keys for one
month and are sentenced to one month in Smog City!
Bailiff, take her away!
SMOG CITY: Cough! Cough! Cough!
53
saferoutestoschool.ca
Idling Observation Form - Baseline Data Collection Record
Observer Name:
School name: Date of observation:
Time of day: start: end:
Weather Conditions:
How to identify an idling vehicle: 1.Look for exhaust fumes
2.Listen for the engine
3.Look for vibration of the vehicle
4.Smell of exhaust fumes
5.Look for headlights being on
Description of Turned Idling Duration of Gender Comments:
Vehicle engine off Engine? idling in of driver 1 = reading in car
immediately Y/N minutes M/F 2 = listening to radio
3 = looking around
4 = other
NO
saferoutestoschool.ca
R emember t h e R u l e?
Idling at School
Turn it Off: R educing Car E ngine I dling
Commitment I ntervention
General I nformation:
Name of Monitor:
Name of S ite:
Time at S ite:
Date:
R esults:
S ex of Did they take the Did they Did they put Where did they Notes
Driver information card take the the sticker on put the sticker
M or F Y or N sticker their window on their window
Y or N Y or N
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ASRTS Resource Guide, 2nd edition
saferoutestoschool.ca
4.5 The Walking School Bus
The Walking School Bus (WSB) is recommended for schools that have been involved in the
ASRTS program for at least one school year and have participated in IWALK and Walking
Wednesdays. For many families the Walking School Bus is the natural progression in changing
attitudes around driving children to school.
The following WSB information is also available on our website at www.saferoutestoschool.ca
so you can customize materials to suit your unique needs.
Walk, walk with a bus
Join us everyday
Be happy and safe
And make new friends
Be part of our new way
Kennedy P.S., Toronto, Grade 1 Class
School Checklist
HOW TO ORGANIZE A
WALKING SCHOOL BUS
PROGRAM
What do you have when you combine healthy
exercise with hands-on street proofing lessons and
reduced air pollution emissions? A Walking School
Bus! Don’t believe us? Why not try organizing and
participating in a Walking School Bus for one week
and then decide. Here’s how to get Walking School
Buses going in your community.
Nearly 9 out of 10 parents who walk their children to school see it as an ideal way to meet
new people, socialize at the school gate and get some daily exercise, concludes a study
by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) in the UK
(www.dtlr.gov.uk)
A Walking (or Cycling) School Bus is two or more families, traveling together for safety.
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What to Do √
1. Map the routes to school to create the School Map. You will need a clear
map of your school catchment area. www.mapquest.com might be useful
for you to get a map of your school area.
2. Determine interest in participating in Walking School Bus Week. Modify the
Sample Parent Letter (follows) and send home with the WSB flyer (follows)
to your families. Include a copy of the school area map so parents can
indicate the approximate location of their homes.
3. Mark the locations on the school area map to identify which routes have
enough families to participate in a WSB, using the completed WSB flyers
returned from the families.
4. Arrange to have a “meet-and-greet” event where interested parents get to
meet each other, cultivate trust, and get the initiative rolling.
5. Notify your local police division about the WSB week project at your school.
Show your local police your School Map so they can help you better. Tell
them which routes families will be walking and request extra police eyes on
these routes if possible. Invite them to the “meet-and-greet” event.
6. Ask the police to assist with a school assembly to remind students of
pedestrian safety rules.
7. Show your local municipal councillor and traffic engineer your School
Map. Ask if they are aware of any areas that could pose conflicts between
pedestrians and vehicles. If so, ask if they can assist to make these routes
safer for the pedestrians.
8. Distribute a WSB tool kit to each family who intends to participate.
NOTE: In some school districts police reference checks are mandatory for all parent volunteers. If your
school decides to use this reference check service for Walking School Bus parent volunteers, check with
your local police station about the process and the fee charged.
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saferoutestoschool.ca
Sample letter for use by schools to promote WSBs
D e a r P a r ents,
As you know, we have been working for some time to reduce the traffic
congestion around our school and promote safer and healthier alternatives. We
have participated in International Walk to School Day and hold regular Walking
Wednesdays. Our students and parents are to be congratulated for their efforts in
supporting these important initiatives.
We would like to encourage families to walk to school on a more regular basis,
rather than just on Wednesdays. We know some of you are already doing this and
we thank you for setting a great example for the rest of us.
To this end we are promoting Walking School Bus Week at our school, to be held
(fill in dates here). The attached flyer will give you more details on this program.
If you are interested in participating in Walking School Bus Week please complete
the form on the back of the flyer and send it back to the school with your child.
It may not be possible for your family to walk every day but if you can do it just
two or three days a week it would be better than not at all. If we all do a little we’ll
achieve a lot!
Participating families will receive a Walking School Bus kit that includes useful
information on organizing a Walking School Bus as well as stickers for the students
and ideas on how to make your daily walk safe and enjoyable.
Walking School Bus Week is an initiative of the Active & Safe Routes to School
program. The Green Communities Association coordinates this project across
Ontario and you can visit their Web site at www.saferoutestoschool.ca to learn
more about them and their other programs.
Signed by Principal
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saferoutestoschool.ca
Sample flyer for parents :
What are the benefits?
Reduced…
The Walking School Bus Traffic around the school and
in your neighbourhood
“It’s a fun and active way to
safely start your day”
Parking Hassles
"For 15 minutes
Chance of children being hit
we slow down the by a car
really fast pace of
our modern lives
and we can
Increased…
actually have a
conversation with
Clean, healthy air for growing
our children. It's
lungs
also a chance to
Physical activity for parents and
take notice of the
kids
changes in weather and seasons. It
Community Safety
really feels healthier all around."
“Time-off” for parents sharing
walking school bus duties
Parent Volunteer, Walking School
Knowledge about community
Bus, Toronto.
gained by children who walk
regularly
So, what is a Walking School Bus?
Actually, there is no bus. Parents
So, how do I get on a WALKING
walking children to and from school
SCHOOL BUS?
become the Walking School Bus.
Fill out the attached sheet and
How does it work?
send it back to your child’s teacher.
Please be sure to indicate your
Families who live on the same
address on the sheet so we can see
block or in the same apartment
how many other interested families
building, walk children to and from
live close to you.
school. Initially everybody walks,
Please also indicate the
sharing responsibility, conversation
approximate location of your house
and building social networks along
on the school area map on the
the way. Later, as trust is built and
reverse side of the attached sheet.
schedules get organized, taking
Someone from the school will be in
turns can save time. touch with you soon.
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If you are interested in trying a Walking School Bus for one week,
complete the questions below and send this back to your child’s
teacher.
Your Name: _________________________________
saferoutestoschool.ca
Your Phone #: _______________________________
Children’s Names and Grades (list them with the oldest first):
Street you live on: ________________________________
Nearest intersection to your house:
________________________________________________
Using a marker or dark pen, please indicate your route to school on the map
provided on the back of this survey.
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FAMILIES’ CHECKLIST – HOW TO
ORGANIZE A WALKING SCHOOL BUS
PROGRAM
Your family has indicated an interest in participating in a Walking School Bus. This kit
is intended to help you organize a Walking School Bus along your route to school and
to prepare your family to walk.
Family Checklist – What to Do
Getting the Bus Going:
1. Through the school, find out how many other families on your route are
interested in trying the Walking School Bus.
2. Ask your school to organize an informal meeting with these families.
saferoutestoschool.ca
3. Determine which days your Walking School Bus will operate – everyday
or just two or three? Will each family participate in the walking of the
children or will you take turns as ‘bus drivers’? You can all walk together
if you prefer.
4. Three to four children per adult is recommended for maximum safety.
Always try to position one parent at the front of the bus and one parent
at the back of the bus.
5. If your WSB group has concerns about the safety along your route to
school, contact your community police officer and your local municipal
councillor. Tell them about the WSB project and ask if they can address
your concerns. Ask if they might be able to walk the route with before
your Walking School Bus gets underway.
6. Start your Walking School Bus by walking just one way – to school or
from school. As people feel more comfortable, and schedules allow,
expand the program to include two-way trips.
Preparing everyone for the walk to school:
1. Ensure each member of your family has their Walking School Bus
identification tag and is wearing something reflective. The kit contains
reflective arm-bands which can be used for this purpose.
2. Review pedestrian safety rules with your children before you start the
WSB and then regularly remind the children as you walk together.
Parents need to review road safety rules too! Refer to the WSB
Behaviour Expectations and review this with your children.
3. Ensure you have a list of home and work phone numbers for each
participating WSB family.
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On the walk to school:
1. Children do not go inside people’s houses – they are picked up on the
street outside their house or at a safe designated “bus stop” agreed
upon by the group.
2. Escort all children right into the schoolyard. Kindergarten students
should be taken to, and picked up from, their classrooms.
3. Ensure you and your children are dressed appropriately for the weather.
Refer to the attached weather sheet.
Other useful tips:
• Bring along a wagon to transport really heavy bags or bulky musical
instruments.
• Be sure to have FUN. Have a theme day at least on one day, for example, a
crazy hat day or decorated sneaker day. Have the children come up with a
name for your WSB. Create a rhythm, song or rap for your WSB and sing it
along the way.
saferoutestoschool.ca
Behaviour Expectations for Children
Participating in a Walking School Bus:
• Listen to the adult ‘bus drivers’ at all times.
• Be on time.
• Obey all traffic rules and signs.
• Be very careful when crossing streets.
• Stay with the group, no lagging behind or running ahead.
• No pushing or fooling around while walking or waiting.
• Look out for each other.
• Respect neighbourhood property.
• HAVE FUN!
If your trial WSB
was successful,
don’t stop now
… keep it going
throughout the
school year, even
if it’s only for a few
days each week.
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saferoutestoschool.ca
Dress for the weather, all year long ……
Walking in a Winter Wonderland:
Don’t avoid walking when the weather doesn’t cooperate - it’s actually the best
way to keep warm outdoors. Just be sure to dress properly:
• Keep hands and head covered to prevent heat loss
• Wear warm, waterproof boots in cold weather and rain boots in wet
weather
• Carry umbrellas for those rainy days
• Wear a coat that is waterproof and deflects the wind
• In extreme cold keep skin covered - wear a scarf over your face and mouth
• Woollen clothing helps to retain the heat
• Change wet clothes - tuck an extra pair of socks and mitts into your child’s knapsack
Walking in Sunshine:
In the warmer months of the year:
• Apply sun screen at the start of the day and pop a small container in
your child’s school bag.
• Wear wide brimmed hats to protect face, ears and neck from the sun.
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and carry a bottle of water on your walk to and
from school.
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WALKING TO
SCHOOL HELPS THE
WALKING SCHOOL BUS
ECONOMY IDENTIFICATION
Physical inactivity is We recommend using ID tags as identification of WSB
costing Canada’s economy
participants. Below is a sample tag which is actually
about $2.1 billion annually
a luggage tag that is laminated for protection and
(2.5 percent of total
direct medical costs). attached it a knapsack or coat zipper. Each member
Peter Katzmaryk of York of the WSB, adults and children, would wear one.
University’s kinesiology Sample tags are available on the website.
department notes that
if every single person in
Canada who was inactive
saferoutestoschool.ca
became physically active,
coronary artery disease
could be cut down by 35%
and stroke by 20%. (As
Family Name : __________________________
reported in the Canadian
Medical Association School : __________________________
Journal, CMAJ 2000;
163(11): 1435-40.) WSB Route : __________________________
Walking to school regularly
can save families up to
$230 in fuel costs over a
year (Pembina Institute, Home Phone #s : __________________________
www.climatechangesolutio
ns.com). __________________________
Air pollution costs the
Parents' Work Phone #s : __________________________
Ontario economy dearly: __________________________
Health care costs - $630 School Phone # : __________________________
million
Sick days - $566 million
It costs just over $20 a day
to drive one kilometer to
school vs. only 41 cents
to walk! A Grade 4/5 class
at St. Charles Garnier
School in North York did
this calculation by factoring
gasoline at 77 cents a
litre, depreciation costs at
20% a year and insurance
costs.
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CLASSROOM MAPPING
4.6 – Blazing Trails through the Urban Jungle
One interesting way to involve students in the
ASRTS program is through classroom mapping
projects. The first step for children to feel safe
in their community and develop confidence in
moving about their own neighbourhoods is to get
to know their community. Working with children
to learn street names, landmarks, transit stops,
‘safe’ places, etc., needs to start at an early
age. Walking with their parents to and from school
certainly goes a long way to develop this confidence
but involving curriculum exercises helps to reinforce this
experience.
Blazing Trailing Through the Urban Jungle:
The GCA offers the Blazing Trails Through the Urban Jungle classroom resource to
participating ASRTS schools. A sample copy has been provided with this guide. Created
by Transportation Options in Toronto, Blazing Trails consists of a student workbook and a
teacher’s guide. A map needs to be prepared of the school catchment area and this is inserted
into the centre of each student’s workbook. We have found that the easiest maps for the
students to use are the zoning maps created by municipalities. Contact your School Board
or local municipality to locate a suitable map for your school. It helps if this same map is also
enlarged for use in the classroom. Blazing Trails is designed for students in Grades 4 through
6 but can be adapted for younger students. Refer to the Curriculum Connections section of
this guide to see the links to the Ontario
curriculum.
Create Student Maps:
Children can draw their own maps in the
classroom. One way to approach this is to
ask students to draw their trip to school,
noting places of interest to them, and then
describe their trip by writing about it on
the back of the sheet. When students in a
Florida classroom were asked to perform
this task, the results were surprising.
Those who walked to school created vivid
maps and described their community in
detail. Those who traveled to and from
school by car handed in practically blank
sheets of paper.1
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