|
Safe Routes to School in Boston
|
Safe Routes to School Boston (SRTS)
is a city-wide effort to make walking to school safe, popular and fun. SRTS is a nationally recognized "Best Practice" for encouraging safe and active transportation to school, and is one of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HI-5 policy interventions
, with a goal that SRTS policies and programs can lead to a health impact in 5 years. Boston's goal is to create safer environments, both inside and outside of the school building, for students to get daily physical activity that enhances their health and their academic performance.
Currently, only
21% of Boston Public Schools (BPS) students in kindergarten through grade 8 walk to school though more students live close enough to the school where they could feasibly walk if they chose to do so. Students who walk arrive with increased readiness to learn because physical activity boosts a student's ability to focus, concentrate and learn the material being taught. Walking to school can increase attendance, while reducing traffic congestion surrounding the school which creates a safer environment for walkers and bikers. Walking or biking to school can also be a key way to get more minutes of physical activity into the school day and help schools meet the national standard of 60 minutes a day.
SRTS Boston's program:
The Let's Get Healthy, Boston! SRTS team is led by the BPS Health and Wellness Department. It also includes key BPS departments such as transportation, safety services, and communications, and city partners including the Boston Police Department, Boston Public Works Department and Boston Transportation Department.
SRTS Boston is working on three levels: Individual schools, district-wide and city-wide.
Individual schools: There are 12 schools participating in the in-depth SRTS program this year.
Principals, physical education and other teachers, staff, parents and wellness champions are collaborating to offer programs and communicate to students and parents. Initiatives include:
- Evaluating neighborhood sidewalks and streets to identify safer walking route options as well as needed repairs for the City to address.
- Teaching families and students safe walk route options using maps created for our school
- Educating students on safe walking behaviors through a pedestrian safety curriculum in Physical Education classes
- Sharing safe walking tips with parents and guardians so they can model these behaviors
- Encouraging families to use Bos:311 to report issues such as broken walk signals and worn crosswalk markings
- Encouraging families and students to try walking at fun events such as Walk to School day
BPS district supporting SRTS: BPS is implementing a district wide communication plan to supply all schools with more information about the program in order for every school to be active in some level. The district is coordinating messaging on why now is the right time for a SRTS program, and how schools and communities can be involved. In addition, LGHB evaluation team at the Harvard Prevention Research center are managing a district-wide evaluation to look at changes in transportation to school behaviors.
The city of Boston is prioritizing SRTS: LGHB is partnering with other city agencies and departments to better align our work, including integrating messaging into Mayor Walsh's Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to INSERT VISION ZERO GOAL, which is right in line with SRTS goals. In addition, SRTS Boston encourages residents to make their walking and biking environment safer by reporting issues to Boston 311. LGHB is also excited to be working with BPW, BTD and the Toole Design Group to complete walking infrastructure audits and make repairs that increase students' ability to walk safely to school.
Thank you to the City of Boston and the Boston Transportation Department for the 25 MPH speed limit change that goes into effect on date January 9th, 2017!
Highlights of this Year's Program
Walk to School 2016-
Walk to School Day (WTSD) is an annual event to promote SRTS nationally. This year on October 5, 2016, 11 SRTS Boston schools participated in a WTSD event. The WTSD events varied at different schools as each school adapts a walking route to fit their needs. Some schools start from the outside point of the school and walk in using specific walking routes. Other schools have their buses drop off students a few blocks from the school, and the students walk those last blocks together. Yet another option, this year, the Quincy Elementary School coordinated a "Walking Parade" where students walked 4 times around the school building for WTSD which is equivalent to 1 mile. Prior to students reporting to their classes schools coordinated a brief assembly to talk about key points, and educate students on all the benefits of walking.
LGHB and BPS were thrilled to have Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Police Commissioner William B. Evans, and other City Officials joined WTSD at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester. The Mayor and Commissioner paraded students into the building to start the school day. LGHB thanks the Mayor, Commissioner and the City Officials for supporting WTSD and the SRTS Boston program.
Wellness Champions-
In order to ensure that SRTS is being effectively coordinated each school has Wellness Champions. Wellness Champions are teachers, administrators, school staff, parents, or anyone else who comes from within the school community. Wellness Champions are provided with professional development, and are educated on the SRTS program through three trainings during the school year. Champions lead and coordinate all components of the program in their specific school and are integral to the program's success within the school. (Put all these as bullets under the highlights section- preferred routs, pedestrian safety.
Preferred Walking Route Maps-
Earlier this year SRTS partnered with the Toole Design Group, LCC. and created preferred walk route maps for each scho
ol, so far 11 maps have been created, and others are in process. The maps were created using results from walk audits, co
n
versat
ions with parents and others in the sch
ool community. The maps were shared with parents to show them safe routes that their
students can now walk to school with
th
e prefe
rred yet safer route. This year the Boston SRTS program plans to promote the maps on a district wife level, and provide e
ach school with assistance on how they choose to disseminate
their walking route map.
Pedestrian Safety Education-
BPS is working to ensure students have access to pedestrian safety lessons during physical education classes. All schools participating in this year's program will implement a pedestrian safety curriculum as part of PE. Other schools in the district are able to opt-in to the curriculum and the LGHB team hopes to see the number of schools teaching pedestrian safety grow.
Stay informed and connected with Boston SRTS through the website
and by using the #SafeRoutesBoston and #BPSWalktoSchoolDay hashtags. Joi
n us for Another WTSD in the spring!
|
Diving in:
A Healthy Community Champion
|
What is a community of practice, you mask ask? Just as it implies, a community of practice (COP) is a group of people who share a concern or a passion learn how to do it better as they connect and interact regularly. A year ago, Healthy Community Champions Coordinators working on active transportation (bicycling, walking, and public transit) started their own community of practice. The goals of the monthly community of practice meetings are to create sustainable cross-neighborhood connections, build relationships, and share successes, troubleshoot challenges, and brainstorm new ideas and strategies.
Coordinators also learn from each other to improve or adapt strategies in their neighborhoods.
All participants in the active transportation COP are very passionate about this topic and understand how important the role active transportation plays in the quality of life of their neighbors. They understand the significance of active transit as part of a holistic approach to health.
"We are all passionate about this and we are looking int
o ways to include active transit into our community programming and continuing this initiative after funding has stopped, because we value this topic to better our community," says Tiffany Cogwell, Talbot-Norfolk-Triangle Healthy Community Champion Coordinator.
According to Tiffany Cogwell, one of the main goals of the COP for 2017 is to "work together to create and implement a sustainable viable walk route and bike route for neighbors so that daily walks and bike rides become more of the norm and the chosen avenue for daily exercise and easy back and forth route that individuals will use more often."
|
Eat Healthy this Holiday Season!
|
The holiday season is about family, fun and food! It's usually a challenge to get friends and family to eat healthy during this season. It's the season with delicious dishes and treats that are packed with calories and can add a few pounds. Here are some tips to help you eat healthy this holiday season!
Swap the SALT and SPICE it up - Consider using herbs and spices such as rosemary and cloves, instead of salt. For an ingredient guide for adding flavor to your food, check out the BPHC Swap the Salt webpage.
Go Fresh
Instead of canned products, use fresh fruits and vegetables in your dishes. If you must use canned products, rinse thoroughly with water to remove the sodium before cooking and serving.
ReThink Your Drink! Instead of sugar-sweetened beverages that are packed with calories and sugar, try fruit infused water. This will help you infused the water intake at dinner with and add some flavor to the water. Follow the recipe below to make this Strawberry, Basil, Cucumber Infused Water.
Pay attention to your portions
- Be conscious of how much you put on your plate; try to balance the meat on your plate with more vegetables than refined and processed carbohydrates.
Have a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season!
|
|
Would you like to be featured in our newsletter?
If your organization is doing work in any of our 3 focus areas (active transit, healthy food /beverages, smoke-free housing)
Stephanie Voltaire at 617-534-2064 or email at svoltaire@bphc.org
|
For more information about
Let's Get Healthy, Boston!
please contact
Stephanie Voltaire
Boston Public Health Commission
617-534-2064
svoltaire@bphc.org
|
|
|
STAY CONNECTED! FOLLOW US! |
|
|