To a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
Happy Holidays from Safe Routes Philly.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful….

Bicycling on snow or ice covered streets requires certain skills on the part of the bicyclist. If you choose to brave the weather on bike please remember to take it easy – literally.

I'll bet our readers have other suggestions, but I recommend the following:

• · Turn slowly around corners

• · Don’t brake abruptly

• · Road defects may be hidden by a fresh coat of snow, so take routes you are familiar with

• · Make sure your lights are working on these dark mornings and afternoons, so other road users can see you

• · Wear a good set of gloves and keep your head and face covered

• · Bicyclists have their own wind–chill factor, so prepare yourself with the appropriate layers

• · Let out a little bit of air pressure in your tires to cover more ground

It is extremely easy to end up on the roadway when riding on a shallow layer of snow -- we've probably all been there -- so remember to take it especially easy and get where you are going safely during these blustery days of winter.

For more information on riding during the winter months, check out another post of ours with helpful tips and extra resources here.

Safe Routes Philly at Resurrection of Our Lord School

Date: November 16, 2010
Neighborhood: Rhawnhurst
Number of students: 118

Safe Routes Philly was invited to bring our lesson in bicycle safety to the fifth and sixth grade classes of Resurrection of Our Lord School.

Our fifth grade lesson was filled with remarkable children who were just perfect kids. At the end of the class they gave a round of applause with a student who excitedly screamed “you’re a great teacher!”. Sixth grade included a girl from class who shared the story of her brother getting in an accident. Luckily, he was wearing a helmet and survived.

Principal Stulz is very supportive of our programming, and is interested doing more with us in the spring! A very special thanks goes out to the teachers of Resurrection of Our Lord School and a very sincere thanks goes out to Principal Stulz for helping to make it happen. 118 students are now safer in the streets of Philadelphia!!

Ride Safe,
~Cy

Would you like Safe Routes Philly at your school? Lessons are available for FREE to 5th grade classrooms in every Private, Parochial, and Charter School in Philadelphia! If you or someone you know would like us to visit a school, please contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org. For public elementary schools, we've got a special program that will be coming to your school! Check out our website for more information.

Do you like working with kids? Interested in volunteering? Contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org for more information!

Universal Institute Charter School starts a cycling club!

Wheels were rolling, bike lights were blinking, and the Universal Institute Charter School Cycling Club students were chanting “U-I-C-S!”

Doug Markgraf, a teacher at Universal Institute Charter School, has started UICS’s first cycling club. On Friday, Safe Routes Philly was invited to join Doug in a ride with the students. Our route was a short, round trip ride from the school’s location at 15^th and Catherine Streets to Schuylkill Banks Park at 25^th and Spruce Street.

During the ride, the students made a dramatic change in riding ability and practice of safe riding. They learned how to use their hand signals at every turn and stop. They practiced riding in a straight line. They learned how to spot, point, and call out visible hazards.

At the end of the ride I asked the group, “Who here learned something new?”. Each one raised their hand and excitedly shared what they had on their mind.

Kudos to the students of Universal Institute Charter School and Mr. Markgraf for starting their first cycling club!

Are you interested in starting a cycling club for your school? Let us know! We have resources available that can help.

Being Visible: Safe routes Philly at Our Mother of Consolation School

Date: November 11, 2010
Neighborhood: Chestnut Hill
Number of Students: 33

In our lesson, we teach our students to be visible when they’re on their bikes. “So, does that mean dark colors,” I say as I point to my navy blue polo, “or bright colors?” I point to students wearing brighter shirts in the classroom.

“Bright colors!” says the class unanimously.

“That’s right. Bright colors help you stand out especially at night and when it rains. There are two more parts on a bike that also help you be more visible. Anybody know?”

Hands are thrown in the air. One girl says “Reflectors!”

“Correct! Can you explain how they work?” I’ve come across many students think they have light bulbs inside of them so I was delighted when this young student explained them correctly. I also add that reflectors can be found in the wheels, the pedals, the front and back of the bike, and sometimes on your sneakers and jackets. Lastly, I add that the more reflectors you have, the more visible you are.

“There is one more part on the bike that helps you be visible, can anyone give me an idea?”

I chose one young 6^th grade boy who said, “Lights!”

“Good!” I take the light off my bike, show how it works and explain that they are really great tools to increase your visibility. Few children have them. I also inform the class that they are available at any Walmart, K-mart, Target, bike shop, or toy store.

The class went very, very well. The students were very engaged, very enthusiastic, and very respectful. Many students were eager to share their stories.

Special thanks goes to Ms. Rowbottom and Mr. Iraci for welcoming Safe Routes Philly in their classrooms, and a very special thanks goes to Principal Hagy in making it happen! 33 more students are now safer in the streets of Philadelphia.

Ride Safe,

~Cy

Would you like Safe Routes Philly at your school? Lessons are available for FREE to 5th grade classrooms in every Private, Parochial, and Charter School in Philadelphia! If you or someone you know would like us to visit a school, please contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org. For public elementary schools, we've got a special program that will be coming to your school! Check out our website for more information.

Do you like working with kids? Interested in volunteering? Contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org for more information!

Painting a Safer Future: Safe Routes Philly at Universal Institute Charter School

Date: November 5, 2010
Neighborhood: South of South
Number of students: 100

Universal Institute Charter School (UICS), South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA), and The National Center for Safe Routes to School partnered together to create an intersection mural. The colorful mural is located at the intersection of 15^th and Catherine Streets. This may be the first of its kind in Philadelphia. Not only is it artfully done, but it also serves a purpose! The low-cost, high-visibility project alerts motorists to all forms, especially cars, to proceed with caution through the intersection. It also depicts the direction of travel for bicyclists and pedestrians.

For more information on the project, click here!

In the weeks approaching the day of the project, Safe Routes Philly was invited to teach bicycle safety to the 5^th and 6^th grade of Universal Institute Charter School.

At one point I had the room making beats with their hands and feet. Each side would alternate chanting “EYES EARS MOUTH!” (the motto for proper helmet fitting) and “ABC QUICK CHECK!” (an easy phrase to remember how to check your bike) Some students danced along with the music. It was a great day.

Special thanks goes out to UICS and SOSNA, especially Andrew Dalzell, Eve Lewis, and Zenobia Shah for helping to make it happen. Here’s to 100 more students who are now safer in the streets of Philadelphia!

Ride Safe,

~Cy

Photo Credits: Andrew Dalzell

Interested in creating an intersection mural or other related project in your neighborhood? The National Center for Safe Routes to School is a great resource to help you get started. Click here to learn more.

Would you like Safe Routes Philly at your school? Lessons are available for FREE to 5th grade classrooms in every Private, Parochial, and Charter School in Philadelphia! If you or someone you know would like us to visit a school, please contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org. For public elementary schools, we've got a special program that will be coming to your school! Check out our website for more information.

Do you like working with kids? Interested in volunteering? Contact Cy@bicyclecoalition.org for more information!

What do you do with your old bicycle helmet?

Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute is loaded with helpful information about helmets.

One of the pages that struck my interest was the discussion on what to do with used helmets....an interesting idea: Reuse a helmet as a plant holder, "The vents are good for draining..."

Call out to the community: What do you do with your used bike helmet?

Act 48 credits here!

Safe Routes Philly is holding its second teacher training on Tuesday, December 7th at Fels High School from 4:30 - 7:00pm.

Safe Routes Philly’s trainers educate Physical Education teachers and classroom teachers that work with 2nd and 5th graders in all public elementary schools in Philadelphia.

Teachers who attend receive our teachers guide, activity books for their 2^nd and 5^th grade students, a DVD, and Act 48 credit.

Register today through PD Planner!

A blog about a blog about a blog

One of our blogs was reposted in the Mount Airy Patch, a local online newspaper for the Mount Airy community! Click here to check it out. Thank you Zach!

To all of our readers: If any of you would like to repost any of our blogs or link to it in your local newspaper / neighborhood organization newsletters, please let us know! We would love to know that our message is getting out.