Join GovJam Los Angeles June 4-6th

This June, join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership staff at GovJam LA, presented by the Hub LA and friends. Global GovJam is a 48 hour global event where teams of public agency staff and community leaders will work together on the challenges faced by public services. Teams will collaborate to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems. Participants will apply design principles and multi-disciplinary expertise to develop ideas through to prototypes.

While the theme is government, the objective is learning through experience. This 2.5 day hands-on event gives public sector individuals and concerned citizens the opportunity to learn new approaches and tools (and to learn from each other), and to bring those new skills, thinking, inspiration back to their jobs and life.

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.

Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition attends Metro Policy Meeting

Los Angeles County leaders speak out for walking, bicycling and safe routes to school and complete streets in Los Angeles County at LAC Metro Policy Meeting 4.17.13

The Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition is launched and is excitedly taking its first steps! Join us!

Today partners from across the Los Angeles County region, representing Long Beach, Downey, El Monte, South Los Angeles, and organizations like Community Health Councils, Cali Bike Tours, Bike San Gabriel Valley, Advancement Project, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health provided testimony at Metro Policy and Programming committee in support of efforts to increase funding for walking, bicycling, safe routes to school and complete streets efforts in Los Angeles County.

This group is coming together in support of increasing Los Angeles County Transportation investments for walking and bicycling projects past the 1% allocated in the County 2009 Transportation plan (Metro 2009 LRTP, p.15).  With close to 20% of all trips in the County (2009 NHTS data) on foot or bicycle, and close to 40% of the roadway deaths (2010 SWITRS data) people out walking and bicycling, organizations and individuals are coming together to speak out to address and change this.

What Happened at the San Bernardino County Active Transportation Network Kick Off?

SBCATN Kick Off Meeting Bicycle Chain

Last week, forty people came together in San Bernardino County to discuss pedestrians and bicyclists policies and priorities in the region. The group called itself the “San Benardino County Active Transportation Network” (SBCATN), intending to create a space for cities, agencies, organizations and community to collaborate, educate and impact local and regional policies. It was a diverse group of participants, representing cities, transportation agencies, foundation, county department of public health, community stakeholders, nonprofits and advocacy groups. The Kick Off Meeting started with a lively bicycle chain networking activities amount participants – people lined up in two rows and introduced themselves to someone across the way in 45 seconds. There is usually not enough time to engage in a conversation but people quickly learn who is in the meeting and open up to sharing their ideas, challenges and best practices. Then the keynote speaker John Longville – who has been the Mayor of the City of Rialto (1987-1998), California State Assemblyman (1998 -2004), and founder of Metrolink – encouraged participants to be persistent in their advocacy for a better San Bernardino County. Participates noted in their evaluations that they heard the key takeaways of the meeting being: “Persistence, ‘Working with theme’ and Collaboration.” Links to presentations, policy opportunities and important documents below.

“Persistence, ‘Working with theme’ and Collaboration”  – Caltrans

Great collaboration and idea sharing  – City of Moreno Valley

It was a great convening and interested in hearing more about opportunities for convergence and collaboration  - California Endowment

San Francisco Hosts Nation’s First Walk to Work Day Tomorrow, Friday, April 12!

Walk to Work on Friday, April 12

Be a part of the nation’s first official Walk to Work Day this Friday in San Francisco.

Walk SF will be hosting hubs across the city to help with your participation. Find more information here: http://walksf.org/

Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco supervisors will also participating at some of the hubs. Make sure you connect with them and emphasize how much you value, walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School!

The Huffington Post is covering the day here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/walk-to-work-day-san-francisco_n_3056411.html

And information from the San Francisco Chronicle here: http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2013/04/08/hey-commuters-take-a-hike/

Let’s make it a great success!

April 18 Community Meeting: UCLA Study on Health Effects Related to Changes to State Gas Tax

Filling up the Tank
Photo courtesy of thsandok on Flickr

Drivers, bus riders, Metro rail passengers, bicyclists, people living near roads and freeways — UCLA researchers want to hear from you.

Join them on Thursday, April 18, 2013
5:00-6:30 p.m.
at the Pio Pico – Koreatown Branch Library
694 S Oxford Ave  Los Angeles, CA 90005

The meeting is open to the public, but seating is limited.
Reservations are recommended.  To reserve a spot or to receive more information about the project, call the UCLA Center for Health Advancement at 310-206-1141 or send an email to cha.ph.ucla.edu.

Recap of Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition Meeting on 3/27/13

Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition Meeting March 27, 2013

Last Wednesday over 35-45 people came together at the Wallis Annenberg Science Center to discuss policy needs and goals for the Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition.  It was an exciting afternoon with lots of great discussion and feedback.  Multi-modal/complete streets investments and equity were a key and recurring part of the entire afternoon.  Please see our meeting notes here and pictures from the afternoon here.

In order, to fully leverage these co-benefits of walking and bicycling and their connection to riding public transit, Los Angeles County must build out the active transportation network around its expanding rail system and largest public bus system in the state. Active transportation is crucial to the success of implementing projects that support state and regional policies, such as the Sustainable Communities Strategies from state legislation SB 375 and Active Transportation Program from the implementation of MAP-21, forthcoming Cap and Trade revenue, acceleration of Measure R investments (motion at Board this month) and other pending opportunities.

Transportation Choices Summit and Advocacy Day

Tuesday, April 23 – Transportation Choices Summit

Join leading community organizations and advocates in Sacramento and help ensure state policies and investments promote effective public transit, great walking and bicycling, and affordable homes. Together we will learn about the hottest issues from leaders like the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Brian Kelly and Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols as well as leading advocates like James Corless of Transportation for America.

We will hone our skills and messages in breakout sessions, and there is time for networking with advocates from your area, and from across the state.  At least 30 full scholarships are available to community advocates and organizations representing low-income and people of color from across California.  The deadline to apply for a scholarship covering travel, lodging and registration is March 8 - apply now!

Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan for the City of Los Angeles: Get involved!

The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT)  invites you to save the date for Thursday, March 21, 2:00 – 4:00 in the Caltrans Building (100 Main Street, LA 90012 in Conf Room 1.040B) to review milestones and progress to date on the city’s forthcoming Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan.

The City of Los Angeles is prioritizing need for infrastructure improvements among their 495 schools that fall within the City’s boundaries.  This has been something the SRTSNP and many other partners have been working alongside LA DOT and partners both internally and externally.  Among the many things about this effort that inspire me – is the relationship between the school district and transportation planning agency underway with this effort – not to mention current efforts to loop in community based organizations.  And I love how data is informing this project prioritization effort – it’s inspiring to see the City of Los Angeles endeavor toward this.

Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition Meeting 3/27

Save the Date for the Los Angeles County Active Transportation Coalition Meeting on Wednesday March 27th at 2pm at Exposition Park in Los Angeles

Join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Prevention Institute, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Los Angeles Walks and partners and friends from all over Los Angeles County to discuss Transportation Policy and Investments to improve the built environment for our communities.

This event is open and free for all to attend, but RSVP’s are required and space is limited so sign up today!