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PAST BFW SRTS PROJECT

In 2002, BFW ran a pilot Safe Routes to School program with the sponsorship of the Trek Bicycle Corporation. The goals of the program were to increase the number of students bicycling to school, increase the bicycle safety awareness of students, increase neighborhood participation in transportation solutions, and to learn more about the barriers to children biking to school. The methods were education, encouragement, and facilities improvement. The pilot program was run at Sherman and Cherokee Middle Schools in Madison. An additional pilot program with important partners (Milwaukee Public Schools, the Milwaukee Police Department, NHTSA, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Walks) ran in Milwaukee in 2005 with 6 schools. The BFW has expanded this SRTS program with MPS and educated over 4500 students. With a Wisconsin Department of Transportation SRTS grant in 2008, the program will expand to reach 60 schools and over 5,500 additional students will receive direct education. BFW hopes to expand this program to more schools throughout the state in the future.

BFW Safe Routes to School Projects Include:

Dane County Bike to School, 2000-2006
BFW taught 12 hour safety curriculum to middle school students.

Safe Routes to School Madison, 2002
One month educational program at two Madison middle schools sponsored by Trek Corporation.

Milwaukee Bicycle Crash Mapping, 2004
In collaboration with the Department of Transportation-Bureau of Transportation Safety, BFW mapped bicycle crash locations for the City of Milwaukee using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). This information was then used as part of the overall Milwaukee Safe Routes to School program.

Madison Safe Routes to School Map, 2005
A contract for the City of Madison to create safe walking maps and parent drop-off maps for two elementary schools.

Improving Community Transportation Bike Camp, 2007
In collaboration with the Center for Resilient Cities, the BFW ran a 2 week bike camp with a focus on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Campers aged 10-14 learned how to bicycle safely; explored, used, and learned about bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and analyzed and made recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in their own community.

MPS Bikes to Schools Bike Camps, 2006-Ongoing
In 2006, the BFW piloted a new extension of SRTS, Bike Camps. Bike Camp is a 2 week summer program that combines the Bike Drivers Ed curriculum with additional bicycle riding and community exploration.

Safe Routes to School Milwaukee, 2004-ongoing
Ongoing program through Milwaukee public schools to teach elementary students to bike and walk safely. Over 4,500 students have been taught in 5 semesters. Since 2004, 4,500 MPS students have successfully completed this program. Among these students, there is a 30.1% increase in bike safety knowledge. After completion of the program, approximately 2/3 of students surveyed responded that biking or walking was their favorite form of transportation.

Walking and Biking Audits, 2007-2008
As a sub-contractor with Schreiber Anderson and Associates, the BFW conducted Walking and Bicycling Audits with communities throughout eastern WI. These audits are a component of the SRTS Plans that the communities are created to help develop SRTS programs and apply for funding from the WI Department of Transportation.

To read more about Safe Routes to School, click here