ACTION ALERT: AB-1194 Letter of support needed by May 22!

Send a letter of support for the Safe Routes to School bill AB-1194!

AB-1194, which would maintain level funding, a state SRTS coordinator, and the Technical Assistance Resource Center for the Safe Routes to School program, passed the Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously on April 15.  Now the bill is waiting for votes in the Assembly Appropriations Committee for passage to the Assembly Floor, and WE NEED YOUR ORGANIZATION’S SUPPORT TODAY!

Save Safe Routes to School! Call the Governor by Monday, May 20

Don’t let him do it… Governor Brown is pushing to eliminate Safe Routes to School!  Calls are needed to save the program.

News update from Sacramento: Governor Jerry Brown released his revised budget this week detailing how state funds would be allocated for the 2013-14 fiscal year which begins July 1. Safe Routes to School, a very popular and successful program for ensuring children can walk and bicycle safely to school, is on the chopping block.

Join Move LA in Celebrating Mayor Villaraigosa!

Solano Safe Routes to School Summit!

Solano Transportation Authority and Solano County Public Health invite you to Solano’s first Safe Routes to School Summit on May 23.

Learn about the new, fun and exciting things the SR2S program is working on and future plans.  More information here.

Join a Focus Group in Los Angeles on Climate Change and Health!

The California Department of Public Health is working on a project to better understand how informal community leaders think about community health and climate change as a public health issue, with support from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. Results of these focus groups will be used to develop messages and communications strategies on climate change as a public health issue that can be used to educate, inform and involve diverse communities around the state about this critical issue.

 FOCUS GROUPS will be held in Los Angeles in English and Spanish May 20.

DPH is looking for people in  who are seen as informal “COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADERS” and are involved in community health efforts.WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

• Members of the public who are involved in efforts to promote health in their community through group membership, volunteering, etc.
• Informal/unofficial leaders who are concerned about and active in healthy community efforts

Comment on the Future of Bay Area Active Transportation by this Thursday, May 16!

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) are accepting comments on the Draft Plan Bay Area, and the Draft Enviornmental Impact Report (EIR) until this Thursday at 4pm. Nearly three years in the making, Plan Bay Area is an integrated long-range transportation and land-use/housing plan that will support a growing economy, provide more housing and transportation choices, and reduce transportation-related pollution in the San Francisco Bay Area.The effort grew out of the California Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (California Senate Bill 375, Steinberg), which requires each of the state’s 18 metropolitan areas – including the Bay Area –  to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.

Elements of Plan Bay Area and the EIR are vital for active transportation and equity. Make your voice heard and comment by Thursday’s deadline!

Los Angeles County Fitbit Challenges: Friendly Competition in the Family

Dr. Henry getting his Fitbit!

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is coordinating Fitbit Challenges for Los Angeles County community members, students, teachers, writers, parents, public agency staffers, business owners, leaders, policymakers and more. What is a Fitbit? It is a sophisticated pedometer that tracks your levels of activity and a great tool for raising one’s awareness daily behavior. We think insights into the built environment can be gleaned from actively engaging pedestrians in Los Angeles County. Also, it is really fun!

Dr. Randal Henry applied to join this program in February 2013, which requires all participants to share their experiences with the National Partnership team. Randal told us what it was like to use the Fitbit, incorporate the device into his current activities and track with precision his daily activity. Read Randal’s bio here.

This experience helped Randal become more aware of pedestrian issues. His vision for the future is to see Los Angeles County become more pedestrian friendly by shifting funding away from roads.

The next meeting of the Bay Area Health in Transportation (BAHT) Collaborative is coming up next Wednesday, May 15 at 10 a.m.!

 

The next meeting of the Bay Area Health in Transportation (BAHT) Collaborative is coming up next Wednesday, May 15 at 10 a.m.!

We’ll hear from Rochelle Wheeler, Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the Alameda County Transportation Commission, on their model efforts to ensure Complete Streets policies in the county. We’ll also hear from Susan Stuart, Health Planner in the Center for Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, on her county’s active transportation efforts, including the new County General Plan Health Element. We’ll also get updates on Plan Bay Area and how to make comments.

Thank you for joining the Bay Area Health in Transportation Collaborative (BAHT) — and being part of improving health and transportation in the Bay Area!

Go to this link to register in advance for the next webinar (you’ll receive an email with the link to join and call in information): https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/1179085832310329344

Orange County Expands Bicycle Planning Efforts!

Thursday, May 9 Is Bike to Work Day in the San Francisco Bay Area!

The San Francisco Bay Area’s 19th Annual Bike to Work Day is tomorrow,  May 9! Bike to Work Day — the largest of many Bay Area National Bike Month events — will give residents the opportunity to choose a healthier commute and experience the benefits of cycling firsthand.

HSIP Call for Projects Released – Apply now for SRTS/Bike/Ped!

On Monday, April 29, 2013, Caltrans Division of Local Assistance announced a Call for Projects for the Cycle 6 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This Call for Projects is targeted for approximately $150 million for HSIP based on the estimated available programming capacity.

Applications are due by Friday, July 26, 2013 and should be submitted to the attention of the District Local Assistance Engineers (DLAEs). Applications received or postmarked later than July 26 will not be accepted. For program guidelines, application form and other useful documents, please go to http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/HSIP/apply_now.htm