Update: Coordinator meeting held March 19

The Hardy School principal has agreed to a bike-to-school pilot plan following the support of the schools' community relations subcommittee and the town's Transportation Advisory Committee.Lauren Hefferon, a supporter of cycling to school who manages a bicycle-tour business, explained the next steps in an e-mail sent Feb. 25:

 

"I am thrilled to announce that Deb D’Amico has agreed to launch our bicycle pilot at the Hardy School. Now that we have gotten crucial buy-in from the administration, we need Hardy parents to help us execute this pilot.

 "Do you or would you like to bike to school with your child? Are you interested in helping make cycling to school a reality for Hardy Families? Do you want to help the movement to get kids active and moving and reduce the traffic around our Arlington Schools?

"In a meeting with the community relations subcommittee, it was agreed that a limited and controlled pilot would be the best way to demonstrate and lay the groundwork for safe bicycling to school in Arlington elementary schools.

"Parent volunteers are needed to launch the first Hardy bicycle pilot. E-mail me [at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] if you are interested.

"Are you or any parents interested in being a pilot coordinator? Below is an outline of what we are looking for:

• 3-5 steering committee members: Cycling parents who can help get this pilot off the ground

• 2 bike pilot coordinators:

The pilot coordinators (ideally, two persons working closely) play the central coordinating role of the Bicycling to School Pilot Program. These persons direct and guide the efforts of other parent volunteers in conducting pilot program activities.  A suggested way that the two persons could divide coordination responsibilities is:

Coordinator 1: Marketing and communication (to parents and students). Activities: encouragement (incentive activities), coordination (of bicycle trains, of parent volunteers)

Coordinator 2: Education and incentive activities. Activities:

Planning and preparation (of education and incentive activities) Tracking (of student participation and any reported incidents). Measurement (of traffic) (assisted by members of the TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee), ABAC (Arlington Bike Advisory Committee), and EALS (East Arlington Livable Streets)

One of the pilot coordinators should be designated as the single point of contact for all parents, external parties and school administrators in matters regarding the pilot. The pilot coordinators will be assisted in the planning, preparation and reporting by other members of the Steering Committee, which will include members of the Arlington Bicycling Community and parents from other Arlington Schools.

• We also need volunteers to help with day-to-day activities, such as leading bike trains, running special events, etc.

This promises to be fun and exciting for the children, and better for the school, our health, and the environment.

If you are interested in getting involved, please email me and let me know what role you would like to play (coordinator or steering committee)

The objectives of this pilot are:

Demonstrating that cycling to school can be done safely, showing that encouraging cycling to school can reduce traffic in school area during pick-up and drop-off times Educating parents, children, teachers, and other stakeholders about safe cycling and the benefits of cycling to school Demonstrating that there is interest in cycling to school among parents and children Conveying a positive message (endorsed by the school) about cycling as a means for fitness and transport Gathering data on all of the above that will inform future plans.

The elements of the pilot include:

Education - Education of children and parents in safe cycling, the rules of the pilot program, and in how to choose a safe bicycle route to school.

Engineering - Bicycle racks; signage; maps identifying recommended bicycling routes, dismount zones and routes not recommended for inexperienced cyclists; field checking road conditions on the proposed routes for potholes and wheel-eater storm grates.

Encouragement - Events and activities to encourage children and parents to choose alternatives to driving.

Enforcement - Ground rules and a mechanism for ensuring that the ground rules are observed.

Evaluation - Measurement of participation levels, safety, and effects on school traffic, both before and during the pilot, feedback from stakeholders.

The ground rules for the pilot include:

Students will bike to and from school only accompanied by an adult.

Students and parents agree to dismount and walk their bicycles when entering any dismount zone identified in the map.

No bicycle riding is permitted on school grounds.

Students and parents agree to abide by town and state laws governing bicycling.

 

 

This story was first published March 1 and updated March 10.