October is International Walk and Bike to School Month!

Schools from around Pennsylvania and the world will be encouraging kids to walk and bike to school this October. If you’re planning upcoming events, please register them on the International Walk to School Day website. It’s fast and easy to register. Go to www.walktoschool.org to register an event and see who’s walking in your community. When you register you’ll gain access to additional downloadable materials, including templates for printing stickers, certificates, and puzzles. You’ll also get the chance to win prizes for your school and will be automatically signed up to receive a weekly e-newsletter leading up to Walk to School Day with valuable tips for holding a great event.

In addition, Safe Routes Philly just launched the Safe Routes Philly Challenge - a friendly competition aimed at encouraging more kids and families to use active transportation to travel to and from school and throughout their neighborhoods.

We have a website dedicated to the SRP Challenge. How it works:

1. Create an account on the website.
2. Then register your school or class.
3. Each week, log the number of active trips to school your students take during October.
4. See how your class compares to other classes around Philadelphia!

It's simple, free, and a great way to get students grades K-8 excited about taking active trips to and from school.

For more information about the Safe Routes Philly Challenge, see the website (http://saferouteschallenge.org) or contact your Community Representative.

Happy Walk and Bike to School Month!

Safe Routes Philly Team

REI bicycling beginner classes

Passing along more REI bicycle education classes coming up in the next several weeks at their Conshohocken location.

How To Ride A Bike Class
If you never learned to ride a bike or need to relearn the basics, this is the class for you! Our patient instructors use a series of skill-developing exercises to get you up on two wheels. You'll learn to start and stop smoothly while balancing comfortably on a bike. How to Ride a Bike class is for adults and kids 12 and older. Read more about this event	When: 10/02/2011 10:00 AM Cost: $
How to Ride a Bike for Kids
Is your child struggling to learn how to ride their bike? Our kid-friendly instructors will help them with their first lesson (possibly the only lesson they will need)! Our fun, unique and proven instruction methods have helped hundreds of kids experience the joy of riding a bike. How to Ride a Bike for Kids is for children 4 - 11 years old. Read more about this event	When: 10/02/2011 02:00 PM Cost: $

Bike Maintenance Basics Clinic
If you ride a bike, you need this class! In this informative presentation you'll learn how to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bike. Read more about this event	When: 10/06/2011 07:00 PM Cost: Free

Introduction to Mountain Biking Class
On easy terrain, our instructors teach basic techniques such as shifting, braking, ascending, descending and maneuvering obstacles. Novara mountain bikes are provided free for those without a bike. Recommended for ages 14 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Read more about this event	When: 10/09/2011 10:00 AM Cost: $
Introduction to Road Cycling Class
This outing is for beginning cyclists or those looking for a refresher course. We'll cover basic riding techniques, road riding etiquette, risks, and basic bike maintenance skills. Read more about this event	When: 10/15/2011 09:00 AM Cost: $

Beginning Bike Skills Class
Recently learned to ride a bike and want to become more confident with your basic bike handling skills? In this class you'll learn proper bike fit, basic bike safety, and handling skills. Then you'll head out on a dedicated bicycle path for a short ride to practice your skills and gain confidence. Read more about this event	When: 10/16/2011 10:00 AM Cost: $

Two Mini Grants Available To Philadelphia Schools

There are two exciting mini-grant funding sources opening for Philadelphia schools interested in non-infrastructure Safe Routes To School activities or programs.

First, the National Center for Safe Routes to School is accepting applications for 25 mini-grants of $1,000. Last year Safe Routes Philly community rep Megan Rosenbach helped Willard Elementary obtain one to fund a walking schoolbus. Below is information from their announcement:

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for 25 mini-grants of $1,000 each. These mini-grants support the goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, which is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. SRTS programs are implemented nationwide by parents, students, schools, community leaders, and local, state, and tribal governments.

Mini-grants fund activities that range from the nuts and bolts that help start or sustain a program to new ideas that explore the range of benefits of safe walking and bicycling. Selected mini-grant proposals will fit a school's identified needs and interests around safe walking and bicycling. The mini-grant activities should occur between January 1, 2012, and the end of the Spring 2012 semester.

Applications are due Wednesday, October 19, 2011.  For more information about the National Center's mini-grant program, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants.

Second, the Pennsylvania SRTS Resource Center has recently announced this year's mini grant application process. Schools have the possibility of being awarded upwards of $10,000 to promote, educate, encourage, and enforce Safe Routes to School activities and efforts. Schools interested in applying for a non-infrastructure grant should read the guidelines and submit an application (coming soon) to the Pennsylvania SRTS Resource Center.

Applications for this grant are being accepted between October 5th and November 15, 2011 (at 4:30 PM). More information on this grant is available here.