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	Millions of children, parents, and community leaders from more than 40 countries around the world join together annually in celebration of *International Walk to School.* You can join the 90+ schools across Oregon in celebrating Walk + Bike to School Day Call 682-6212 *Fun Links for Kids!* Bike Safety Tour from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Walking Bus KidsZone *puzzles, games, and road safety information* Safe-a-Rooni *Lots of fun activities to promote safety from the Minnesota Safety Council*
				Free bus ride program helps community By Bobby Green of the Register Guard Published: Friday, September 8, 2006 Transportation affects our community's quality of life in many ways - the air we breathe, the safety of our families, our wallets, and how quickly and efficiently we get where we need to go. By embracing creative advances in transportation, we can enhance our community's livability - such advances relieve traffic congestion, improve air quality, achieve greater safety, provide mobility for disadvantaged groups and bolster the region's economic competitiveness. Commuter Solutions' Smart Ways to School Transit Pass Program is a local program doing exactly that. Read more of the Register Guard article here. Join International Walk and Bike to School Movement! Smart Ways to School can help your students join in this fun movement that is held across the U.S. and other nations! We can help you organize walking and biking groups ahead of time, and celebrate your success as students arrive to school. Events are a great way to encourage parents and students to try a new way to travel to school. If they have fun, they’re more likely to do it again. The benefits include less traffic congestion around your school, and more physical activity for the students. Call us at 682-6212. You can also visit http://www.walknbike.org/site/ to see the Oregon Walk + Bike to School resources. and visit http://www.iwalktoschool.org/ for the International Walk to School Web site. Parent Survey Results In February 2004, parents of 6,000 elementary and middle school students received a transportation survey to determine: • The current travel modes of their children to/from school. • Their willingness to consider walk, bike, bus, and carpool travel options. The most important finding was that a significant potential existed to reduce the number of cars associated with the school commute…in most cases if parents were assured their children would have safe passage by traveling with trusted adults or groups of students. More than 200 parents responded with interest and gave contact information. The most frequent comment was “Sounds great, good idea!” Below are more details of the research findings. Results from Parents of Elementary School Students (40% response) Current Travel Modes (used both ways nearly every day) • 38% of students were driven to school in a SSV (single-student vehicle, or non-carpool) • 22% carpooled • 19% rode the school bus • 9% walked • 2% biked • 10% used a mix of travel modes Willingness to Change (of those who drove alone) • Up to 63% would consider walk or bike (e.g. if accompanied by an adult escort, accompanied by other students, students received safety training, etc.) • Up to 70% would consider a carpool (e.g. if they knew the other drivers, were given a list of other nearby parents who want to carpool, etc.) Results from Parents of Middle School Students (18% response) Current Travel Modes (used both ways nearly every day) • 22% of students were driven to school in a SSV (single-student vehicle or non-carpool) • 13% carpooled • 17% rode the school bus • 12% walked • 3% biked • 2% rode the LTD bus • 31% used a mix of these travel modes Willingness to Change (of those who drove alone) • Up to 74% would consider walk or bike (e.g. if accompanied by an adult escort, accompanied by other students, students received safety training, etc.) • Up to 72% would consider a carpool (e.g. if they knew the other drivers, were given a list of other nearby parents who want to carpool, etc.) Up to 40% would consider taking an LTD bus (e.g. if discounted passes were available, if children were given a route map and the schedule were tailored to fit their needs, etc.).