ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WELLNESS ACTIVITIES !!

Learning how to fix bicycles is opening new career paths for teens High school students often have limited options as graduation looms. While many are expected to go on to college, for some, that's not necessarily the best choice. Bike shop owner Berri Michel was having trouble finding good employees and mechanics for her bike shop and wondered why there was no education outlet for students interested in the field. She had an innovative idea. She wanted to offer students the chance to learn bike mechanics, while picking up some career-building skills they would need to excel in any workplace. "We envisioned it being similar to how the auto industry spearheaded the creation of high school auto shop programs back in the 1930s," Michel says. "So we set out to create new generations passionate and knowledgeable about bikes. And it’s such a fun way to learn!" Her Bicycle Trip bike shop in Santa Cruz, California, was the start of a grassroots program in 2007 that evolved into Project B

The program hopes to help fill the growing demand for bicycle technicians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for bicycle repair jobs is expected to grow by nearly 30 percent by 2026.

Learning more than bicycles

Project Bike Tech teacher and students Long-time instructor Steve Hess works with students. (Photo: Project Bike Tech)

Originally, the curriculum — which is a for-credit high school class — offered basics in bike mechanics. But the course was eventually expanded to include job prep skills such as resume writing, interviewing techniques and team building.

Students learn the skills necessary to work as a professional bicycle mechanic, but they're also introduced to other cycling industry careers including fabrication, marketing, sales and graphic art.

The four-semester, two-year class is taught in eight schools throughout California with three schools in Colorado and Minnesota on board to start the program soon. Organizers are also looking to expand to other locations across the country. The class is typically taught in conjunction with a local bike shop and is held in dedicated classrooms in schools.

"We feel that this is important for the success of the program so that students can easily access the workshop and other students, parents, teachers and faculty can visit and benefit from the room as well," Project Bike Tech's Executive Director Mercedes Ross tells MNN.

Project Bike Tech is designed to have graduates be college- or career-ready upon leaving the class.

"We have a very diverse student population and so we have designed our program so that our students receive a balanced education that prepares them for whichever pathway they choose," says Ross. "We have had students refer to our class as 'Life Tech' due to the many life skills they learn in our classrooms."

A wide range of career opportunities

Project Bike Tech teacher and students Kirk Bernhardt works with Project Bike Tech students in a classroom. (Photo: Project Bike Tech)

At the end of the program, students earn two certifications: a CTE (career and technical education) certificate and certification as an entry level bike mechanic/assembler endorsed by members of the bicycle industry.

Since the program's inception, more than 3,000 students have been introduced to the bicycle industry as a career.

"We have students who go on to work in bike shops, but we also have students who discover that they love working with their hands and so they pursue other trade careers like auto mechanics, tool manufacturing and construction," says Ross.

"Because of our program, students are exposed to careers and opportunities that they might not have considered before they picked up a wrench. There are also students who discover that they love the engineering and design of bikes and want to pursue a college degree so they can work to design the future of bikes. Some of these students may not have considered a college education. Bike mechanic education opens the door to a world of opportunities, and we try to show our students those possibilities."

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Will 5G make you sick?

As a society, we are about to dive headfirst into the next generation of cellular data technology with 5G. This new tech will have speeds you only thought possible with a robust wired connection, and it’ll deliver wherever you are. Imagine being able to download an entire 4K movie in less than 30 seconds. But, as with any new tech, there are those standing on their soapboxes spouting about the perilous dangers of 5G. Are they right to be scared?

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Safe School Traffic Program

The leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5 and 14 in Los Angeles County is traffic collisions. In an effort to change this reality, the Los Angeles Unified School District, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, is working to improve the safe routes of travel to and from our schools.

Engaging our youth, parents/guardians and the greater school community is vital to ending traffic deaths and serious injuries. Through education and innovation, we can safeguard our pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and skateboarders.

Click on each section below to explore information and resources on the Safe School Traffic Program:

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Safer students

Safe Routes to School addresses traffic dangers and improves safety for students.

A New York City study found a 44 percent decline in pedestrian injury among school children in areas with Safe Routes to School projects, compared to no change in locations without. The costs savings associated with injury reduction would achieve an overall net societal benefit of $230 million over a projected 50-year period.3
A study of 47 schools in California found that Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements resulted in a 75 percent reduction in collisions involving people of all ages walking and bicycling.4

Lower transportation costs for school districts and families

Safe Routes to school provides low-cost options for students to get to and from school, reducing the amount of money needed for personal vehicle use and busing.

Transportation is the second highest household expense in the United States. Driving a newer sedan costs an average annual amount of $8,946 ($0.60 per mile).5
Approximately 55 percent of children in the US are bused to school, and $21.5 billion is spent nationall each year on school bus transportation, an average of $854 per child transported per year.6 School districts currently spend $100 million to $500 million annually to bus children for just one or two miles due to hazardous conditions. Improving walking conditions near schools could reduce this cost substantially, by decreasing the need for school bus service for students who live close enough to walk or bike to and from school.7

Reduced student absences and tardiness

Lack of transportation can be a barrier to getting to school on time or at all, especially for students in disadvantaged communities.

A Walking School Bus study in Springfield, Massachusetts showed that students participating in the program had a somewhat better attendance rate (approximately 2 percent) than their peers. The study reported that one student who was tardy or absent 22 days in the 2010-11 school year was not late or absent once after joining the program.8

SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL CHART 031116_srs10thanniv_infographic_final (pdf)Download

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Safe Routes to School programs are one of the most effective and practical methods available

for improving children’s health, the safety of our communities, and the sustainability of our

transportation system. Studies show that Safe Routes to School programs enable children to get vital

physical activity and build healthy life habits. To assess progress in supporting Safe Routes to School,

the Safe Routes Partnership conducted a survey of Safe Routes to School programs across the

country, exploring policies, practices, and funding for programmatic activities. This report provides

an overview of the state of Safe Routes to School programming in the United States and a high-level

assessment of challenges, innovations, and opportunities for Safe Routes to School programs.

What did we learn from the program census? In response to the survey, hundreds of Safe Routes to

School programs from around the country shared their program activities, stories, and struggles. As

their responses showed, these programs are at the forefront of essential change on the ground across

the United States. A principal finding is the immense variation in program structure and scale. Some

programs are focused on a single school, changing the lives of a handful of children by inspiring a

lifelong love for active transportation through walking school buses and bicycle repair classes. Other

programs are creating regional structures that facilitate the replication of walk and bike to school

efforts from school to school and district to district, literally changing the blueprints for school design

and revolutionizing communities’ transportation culture so that elementary schoolers, teens, parents,

and older adults can safely walk, roll, and bicycle.

SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL REPORT national_srts_census_report_final (pdf)Download

CITY OF BREA CA BIKE/WAKING TRAIL

The Tracks at Brea trail project consists of a four mile long multi-use trail and linear park that traverses the City from east to west. The trail features a two-way paved bikeway and a separate pedestrian footpath providing an opportunity to make easy connections across town. It is an attractive option for public access to the Brea Senior Center and the Brea Boys and Girls Club, as well as six schools, Downtown, Brea Mall, the Brea Community Center, city parks, shopping and numerous employers. Comprising about 50 total acres of linear open space, The Tracks also offers new community green space within an urban corridor.

A number of supportive organizations and a series of state and federal grants have funded the majority of the project.

This trail map shows the completed route.

The Tracks at Brea is part of the OC Loop, a 66 mile connection of trails around Orange County.

As future updates become available, they will be posted on this website and circulated through the Brea Line newsletter and other City outlets. Updates are also reflected in Trail News. You may direct your questions and suggestions to TheTracks@cityofbrea.net.

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About BikinginLA

Or road cycling. Or transportation riding. Or fixies. Or mountain biking. Or bikeshare. Or any other niche in the big, wide, wonderful world of bikes.

It’s about bicycling. Period.

It’s about the latest bike news. It’s about advocacy, and making our streets safe for people on bicycles. It’s about honoring fallen cyclists, and doing what we can to ensure it never happens again. And looking past the usual victim blaming to see events from a bike rider’s perspective.

As the name implies, it’s about bicycling in Los Angeles, and throughout Southern California. And anywhere else bikes happen to make the news.

It was born as a bike blog, and gradually transformed into Southern California’s leading source for bike news and advocacy. You can still read the older posts in the archives, or check out the highlights on the Best Of page.

Or just come back every day for the latest updates.

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goTOGETHER - Project Ride Smart

Project Ride Smart is a 5th grade driver's education program - for bikes. This comprehensive bicycle safety program teaches traffic principles and on-bike handling skills. The 10 hour course culminates with street rides where students apply what they have learned to their local neighborhood streets - giving them the knowledge and experience to travel safely to and from school. Project Ride Smart is taught by certified bike instructors.

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Long Beach To Close Several Streets To Cars

Long Beach To Close Several Streets To Cars In Effort To Make Them More Pedestrian Friendly

Long Beach biking walking streets, Long Beach pedestrian only streets, Long Beach to close some streets to cars, pedestrian only street

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – The city of Long Beach is moving forward with a plan to close some streets to vehicle traffic and open them to pedestrians.

FILE — A pedestrian wearing a mask walks her dog in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 22, 2020. (Getty Images)

The Open Streets Initiative will close several roads to cars during specific hours, but will keep them open for walking and biking. The initiative was approved Tuesday by the Long Beach City Council and will take shape in the coming weeks.

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Bicycle Safer Journey :: Ages 5-9 :: English

Elementary English video for Bicycle Safer Journey.

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Looking Toward the Future with Palo Alto Safe Routes to School

Palo Alto is a nationally recognized leader in helping encourage more families to choose safe and active school commutes. The third and final Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Public Service Announcement is now available. This video was made possible by a grant from the Valley Transportation Authority. Learn more: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Depart...

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Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail

Garden Grove Active Transportation Program

Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail

In 2015, the City was awarded approximately $1.8 million for the bike and pedestrian path project called “The First Mile.” On June 9, 2020, the Garden Grove City Council approved the official naming of the trail as the “Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail” in honor of Garden Grove’s Medal of Honor recipients.

The project is part of the Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 2 Grant. To date, the City has completed all four phases of the project which includes the engineering design, environmental study, Right-of-Way (ROW) certification, and construction.

The construction of the trail was a continuation of a bicycle pilot project that was previously constructed from Nelson Street to Stanford Avenue. The extension continues the trail from Stanford Avenue to Brookhurst Street, which results in a one-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail. The construction phase included a 12-foot wide bi-directional bike path made from asphalt concrete pavement and an 8-foot wide pedestrian walkway made from decomposed granite.

In 2020, the City began developing a 40-year Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) to act as a guide for maintaining, enhancing, and growing an urban forest in Garden Grove, starting with the Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail. The plan included an improvement project consisting of the installation of new irrigation, landscaping, and planting 363 trees along the bike and pedestrian trail. For more information about the UFMP, visit ggcity.org/urban-forest.

Gallery - Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail

Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo.

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Garden Grove Active Transportation Program | City of Garden Grove (ggcity.org)

Safe Routes to School Evaluation Resources and Best Practices

ctive Transportation Program (ATP) awardees whose projects and programs are Safe Routes to School (SRTS) focused can benefit from the multiple data collection and evaluation resources housed at the National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS). This presentation highlights key evaluation resources from the NCSRTS, and tells the story of how one ATP awardee and its partners are applying SRTS evaluation findings to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Originally presented June, 2017

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Safe Routes to School

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Safe Pedestrian Routes to Schools and Green Infrastructure

The Safe Pedestrian Routes to Schools and Green Infrastructure Project recently wrapped up, which the Complete Streets Safety Committee has worked on for the past 7 years alongside the Police and Public Works Department. It envelops all of the 5 City Council-adopted values, but the main one would probably be Safety, as it's the Safe Pedestrian Routes to Schools Project, with a Green Infrastructure component.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mpJ3qCEdc&t=2s

Educational Tools to Empower You!

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WELLNESS ACTIVITIES !!

Learning more than bicycles