SR2S Newsletter Fall 2024

SR2S Newsletter Fall 2024

Five out of nine middle schools (55%) in Marin have implemented an e-bike permitting this fall to remove illegal devices from campuses in response to health professionals, law enforcement, and community concerns about student safety. They are Hall, Miller Creek, Del Mar, White Hill, and Mill Valley Middle Schools. Most of the other middle schools currently do not have enough e-devices on campus to warrant a formalized permitting policy.

According to the Marin Health and Human Services dashboard that has tracked all bicycle-related crashes for nearly a year, 10 to 15 year olds are 5 times more likely to be involved in a severe e-wheel crash requiring EMT trips to the hospital than any other age group. The number of total injuries is unknown since parents typically bring their own children to the hospital, but ER doctors have warned that the severity of harm has significantly increased over conventional cycling and is comparable to motorcycle crashes.

Administrators from Middle Schools where parking permits have been instituted have had a mostly positive response from parents.

Hall Middle School’s Assistant Principal, Harrison Blatt, reported that, “Our e-bike policy has increased awareness and dialogue between staff, students, and families about e-bike laws and safety.” According to Miller Creek Assistant Principal, Nick Miller, “There have been a few parents who are upset with the policy, but for the most part our community has been very supportive.”

Of the nine middle school principal responses obtained by Safe Routes to Schools, nearly 100% reported a need for more parent education and recommended a countywide marketing campaign to increase awareness for purchasing legal, age and skill-appropriate e-bikes for students. Many parents are still confused over what is legal or not for their student to ride, mainly with the popular Class 2 brands that are illegal in California (CVC 312.5 (a)). These e-motorcycles exceed the mandated 750 watts and maximum 20 MPH speed limitation to qualify as low-speed e-bikes in our state.
Of the principals contacted, 80% suggest that local law enforcement should institute a diversion program similar to the one conducted in Mill Valley (if cited, students and their parents must attend an e-bike class to waive the citation from the student’s record). At least three of the five administrators with parking permits reported that some students are exploiting the school policy by parking illegal devices off campus.

“Principals and law enforcement have been tremendous allies in our combined effort to keep students safe on legal e-bikes that fit children’s age and skill levels,” said Safe Routes Program Director, Gwen Froh. “Teaching children to be law abiding citizens – for their own safety and the safety of others – has been our goal for 25 years, and we need parent, student and community support to achieve this endeavor.”

The Ross Town Council has taken swift action to improve safety around local schools by lowering speed limits. Soon, both Branson and Ross Schools will see 15 mph speed limit signs within 500 feet of their campuses, ensuring safer conditions for students. It is important to note how fast the decision was made and implemented.

The need for this change came up during a recent Safe Routes to Schools Task Force meeting for the Ross School District, where the issue of speeding cars was raised. Safe Routes to Schools informed the town about a state law, AB 321, passed in 2008, which allows for the reduction of speed limits in school zones from 25 mph to 15 mph. At the very next council meeting, the town approved the change at the suggestion of the Department of Public Works.

Safe Routes to Schools Task Force meetings are held three times a year—in fall, winter, and spring—and bring together school officials, local government representatives, volunteers, neighbors, and other stakeholders to address safety concerns around schools. The top issues receive walk audits from the Safe Routes engineering team, followed by consultations with public works officials to finalize recommendations. While some improvements require funding, as seen with the Ross speeding issue, others simply need decisive action from local authorities. Kudos to Ross for prioritizing student safety.

Find out here when your towns next Task Force meeting is happening and read notes from previous meetings.

The Safe Routes encouragement program has a new twist this fall. It features a reduced number of events, going from the usual four down to three—one each in September, October, and November, with an optional Walk and Roll Day in December.

“The goal is to relieve parent volunteers from organizing an event in December, when the weather is cold and wet and safety is a concern for many of our schools. This way, they can instead focus on supporting carpools or park-and-walk locations at their schools,” explained Safe Routes to Schools Program Director Gwen Froh.

Introduced during the volunteer luncheon in late August, the initiative was well received by attendees, with many already brainstorming new programs for winter.

The first event of the school year took place on September 11, with a large number of schools and students participating in walking and rolling activities. At the welcome table, many parent volunteers and students added a great photo op by wearing silly hats, which were later raffled off among the event participants.

For International Walk and Roll to School Day (IWalk) on October 2, several schools, including Pleasant Valley, Venetia Valley, Wade Thomas, Hidden Valley and Manor had significant preparations. These schools featured fire truck escorts, while Pleasant Valley students made smoothies with a blender bike, powered by their own pedaling.

November’s Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is already generating excitement. The majority of the schools have order swag donated from AAA and some of them applied for a grant of up to $1,000 that should be used for education about inclusivity and anti bullying. Schools like MLK, Loma Verde, Venetia Valley, and Pleasant Valley have announced their intention to elevate this growing tradition that celebrates equality and social justice.

The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) is accepting proposals through December 11 for the latest round of Safe Pathways funding. Now in its fifth cycle, this funding opportunity offers up to $100,000 for small projects and up to $450,000 for larger initiatives, which may include new sidewalks, bike lanes, and other safety enhancements.

The Safe Pathways to Schools Program aims to make biking and walking to school safer for students across Marin County. Since its inception in 2007, the program has supported 80 projects, demonstrating its commitment to improving local infrastructure and student safety.

During the last round of applications in 2019, TAM received 29 applications from 13 agencies. Thirteen out 15 large projects were approved for funding. Just a few examples are the construction of bike lanes on Francisco Blvd. West (shown in picture), pedestrian improvements in Coloma Street, Sausalito, and a pedestrian hybrid beacon at Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Saunders in San Anselmo. In the same package, a pedestrian-safety improvement project benefitting West Marin School was also included.

The selection process for funding involves collaboration between Safe Routes task forces, the Safe Routes engineering team, and local jurisdictions to identify and prioritize issues affecting student commutes.

Projects are selected based on their performance in improving safety across the county, ensuring that funds are allocated to initiatives that have the most significant impact on making student commutes safer and more accessible.

The TAM Board will approve the recommended projects for funding in February or March, 2025.

Students across the county are invited to participate in the “Buddy Up” contest, promoting walking, biking, carpooling, or taking the bus to school together. From now until November 15th, groups of two or more students can sign up to travel to or from school, with a chance to win $50 awards for five winning groups.

Research shows that healthy habits are more likely to stick when friends encourage each other. Walking or biking in groups not only enhances safety, as drivers are more likely to notice larger groups, but also creates opportunities for friendships and lasting memories. The contest is sponsored by Safe Routes to Schools.

Parents and students are encouraged to share their success stories. Heres what one parent from Rancho Elementary shared: “We all ride together in the mornings, ringing bells like a bus at each friend’s house along the way. We have several parents, a Rancho flag, and even music! It’s so much fun having a group big enough to take over an entire lane. Nearly every day, people wave to us and cheer. Fun times!”

Sign up your group today

  •  Ross Monday, Jan 13 at 10 AM
  • Mill Valley Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 9:30 AM
  • Ross Valley Friday, Jan. 17 at 10:00 AM
  • San Rafael Wednesday, Jan 22 at 5:00 PM
  • Kentfield Thursday, Jan 23 at 9:30 AM
  • Miller Creek Monday, Jan 27 at 4:00 or 5 PM
  • Novato Wednesday, Jan 29 at 5:00 PM
  • Reed Thursday, Jan. 30 at 10:00 AM
  • Larkspur – Corte Madera – Thursday, Jan. 30 at 4:00 PM
  • West Marin Tuesday, Feb 4 at 5:00 PM
  • Sausalito/Marin City Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:00 PM

Contact Wendi Kallins if you are interested in joining a task force or if you would like a copy of archived task force meeting notes.

Walking or biking to school is more than just a way to fit in some exercise—it also gives kids a healthy boost from sunlight exposure. According to Dr. Stephen I. Katz, former director at the NIH, “You need very little exposure—something like 10 to 15 minutes a day to the backs of your hands, arms, and face—to get enough vitamin D,” which is essential for strong bones and a resilient immune system.

Morning sunlight doesn’t just stop at bone health—it also works wonders for mood and sleep. Sunlight helps boost serotonin, the “feel-good” chemical, making kids feel more positive and focused during the day. It also helps regulate melatonin, the hormone that makes falling asleep easier at night. According to the National Institutes of Health, morning sun exposure helps set kids up for better sleep, which is crucial for their growth and overall well-being.

Dr. Barnett S. Kramer, a cancer prevention expert, adds, “The time to really start sun protective behavior is not when you reach adulthood, but years before.” That means parents should encourage safe sun exposure—getting enough for the benefits but being cautious to avoid long-term skin risks.

So, when the sun is shining, grabbing those bikes or heading out on foot to school isn’t just good for exercise—it’s also a great way to give your kids a sunny start to a healthier day.

By Nick Pappas*

San Anselmo neighbors Jason Cardillo and Amanda Schwartz have been “bikepooling” their kids to Wade Thomas Elementary for years. Over time, they’ve seen a consistent rise in the number of bike families parents on cargo bikes, families riding together, and, as they get older, kids traveling solo and with friends.

“We’re now at the point where we have more parents dropping off kids from bikes than we do from cars at the back of school,” Jason said.

Jason credits San Anselmo’s dense traffic and the town’s narrow streets for making driving less desirable. “It’s faster to ride a bike,” he said. Electric cargo bikes also make moving kids and backpacks easier and more fun.

“It just snowballs. The more mainstream it is, the more people see others doing it, the more participation we get,” he said.

With the surge in popularity, Wade Thomas parents are organizing to coordinate and talk about ways to make the ride safer and more fun for everyone. Jason and Amanda are part of a neighborhood effort to form a bike train a daily meetup for families and kids to ride together safely along Wade Thomas’s recommended safe routes to school.

While it’s still in the early stages, parents are optimistic that riding together will be an increasingly popular option for parents and kids, will be safer and more fun, and can reduce traffic risk on the school route.

“At the end of the day, it’s just the best way to get to school. They may not always jump out of bed ready to bike, but the moment feet are on pedals everyone’s having a great time,” said Nick Pappas, one of the parents helping organize. “Bike time with friends, fresh air, and light exercise -it’s a mile of smiles.”

Even though the designated school route is on backstreets, it’s still a popular route for car traffic looking for a shortcut around downtown, as well as parents and teens driving to neighboring schools. The route’s narrow streets and blind curves can present conflict risk with oncoming drivers.

“Our kids have been doing a great job learning how to be safe, courteous riders but there’s not much we can do about drivers who think the school route is the place to make up time when they’re running late,” Nick said. “Riding safely, together with parents and friends is a great way to reduce conflict risk.”

Jason, who has been the Wade Thomas parent volunteer for years, will be leaving the role behind with optimism when his son graduates this year. “It’s been amazing to see the growing enthusiasm on our school route. We’re reducing traffic, teaching kids confidence and independence, and helping the environment with great friends and memories along the way.”

*Nick Pappas is the father of a Wade Thomas student and leader of the bike train.

From September 23 through the end of November 15, you will again see bright and colorful banners and lawn signs popping up all over Marin asking people to keep their “Eyes Up” and be alert. These signs will be asking drivers to slow down, watch when turning and look for pedestrians in the crosswalk; bicyclists to yield to pedestrians and to follow the rules of the road; and those walking to pay attention when crossing the street.

This is the most important lesson to keep your kids and yourself safe. People have so many distractions that turn our attention away from the important task of traveling safely, but if everyone kept themselves alert, many tragedies could be avoided.

The catch phrase to remind ourselves to pay attention is Eyes Up. It’s a simple way to remember that you’re driving right now, or walking, or biking.

These messages will also show up in your social media feeds, and you can find them at www.streetsmartsmarin.org. Please share with your friends, family and co-workers.

To get a free lawn sign for your yard, contact your local municipality. There is a tab on the www.streetsmartsmarin.org website with this information.

The Eyes Up, Marin campaign is part of the Street Smarts Program and Safe Routes to Schools, locally funded programs of the Transportation Authority of Marin.

SR2S Newsletter Summer 2024

SR2S Newsletter Summer 2024

Volunteer Luncheon

Parent volunteers and family liaisons are invited to the Safe Routes to Schools Volunteer Luncheon on August 29th, 2024 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Transportation Authority of Marin (900 5th Ave # 100 – San Rafael).
Supplies for the Fall semester will be distributed at the end of the meeting.

A highly desired bicycle and pedestrian link in northern San Rafael connecting residents to transit, shopping, schools and parks is getting $1.94 million in federal funds. The new path will run between Merrydale Road and Civic Center Drive and will serve students traveling to and from Venetia Valley School. The “Rafael Meadows Safe Crossing” project will create a 10-foot-wide multi-use path alongside the SMART Civic Center Station train tracks, under Highway 101. Additional funding is being sought to be able to complete the project. It is hoped that the project will be ready before the 2026/2027 school year.

Walkers and rollers from Venetia Valley school will be able to bypass busy North San Pedro Road entirely during their commute to school by using this 500-feet long corridor.

The pathway will link Rafael Meadows and other neighborhoods west of US Highway 101 with existing multi-use paths on the east side. Currently, to reach the school, active travelers must go along busy Merrydale Road and North San Pedro Road, both of which have fast moving vehicles, long crossings, and highway ramps.

The project was initially identified through an inclusive planning process involving Safe Routes to Schools, students, parents, and staff from the K-8 School. The site where the pathway will be built is owned by several different groups, making coordination challenging. Consensus was reached for the good of the community, thanks in part to a walk audit held by Safe Routes to Schools that brought together community members, City staff, SMART, and Caltrans.

Under the guidance of law enforcement, schools throughout the county are now planning to restrict parking on campuses to “legal” e-bikes next fall. The crackdown came as a result of serious crashes reported among minors.

In a recent letter to Tam Unified High School parents, the Central Marin Police Authority, Mill Valley Police Department, Fairfax Police Department, and Ross Police Department defined, according to California law, what makes an e-bike legal on roads and pathways. Both of the following must apply:

  1. The motor on the e-bike cannot emit power in excess of 750 watts; AND
  2. The throttle control on an e-bike cannot enable it to travel faster than 20 mph at any time.

The above mentioned specs are stipulated in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5. According to law enforcement, if a throttle device sold as a class 2 is capable of being switched into going faster than 20 mph on motor power alone, these devices are not considered low-speed electric bicycles, but resemble electric motorcycles.

E-bikes provide many benefits including teen independence and traffic and pollution reduction. But they must be legal.  A census done by Safe Routes to Schools in November and April showed that e-devices represented on average 30% of all middle school bicycles and 50% at high schools in Marin. The vast majority have high-power throttle motors incorrectly sold as class 2. These brands do not require pedaling to propel them as do the less popular class 1 and 3.

Safe Routes suggests parents confirm that the speed and throttle control on their child’s e-bike meets California requirements. Here is more e-bike information from our Winter newsletter.

The Transportation Authority Marin’s Safe Routes to Schools program was selected to receive this year’s Golden Bell Award by the Ross Valley School District (RVSD). The Golden Bell recognizes Safe Routes to Schools’ 24-year district partnership fostering safe and healthy travel to and from schools.

The award was announced at the May district board meeting. Safe Routes’ program director Gwen Froh was present to receive the award. “It’s especially incredible to be recognized by the RVSD where Safe Routes started,” she said. Marin Safe Routes began in 2000 as a pilot program at Manor elementary in Fairfax, a district school. Safe Routes to Schools is now a national program.

Citing Safe Routes’ mission to ensure children get to school safely, and make it fun,” RSVD Superintendent Marci Trahan thanked the program “for everything you do, every single day.”

Superintendent Trahan also acknowledged the program’s  infrastructure studies and data collection to create safe routes: “Safe Routes to Schools always wants to know from the school district, ‘what are you experiencing, what are you seeing?’ And that’s where the ideas are generated to make getting to school safe.”

The countywide Golden Bell event to honor Marin teachers, school staff and community partners will be held May 23 at Dominican College. This honor is to be shared with all of our parent volunteers, teachers, students, administrators and city officials. Their commitment is why Safe Routes is successful,” Froh said.

Marin students enthusiastically embraced the Rainbow Challenge organized by Safe Routes to Schools, which required students to walk or bike to school weekly for four consecutive Wednesdays. Over 5,000 students from 42 schools joined in. The challenge, which occurred between April 17 and May 8, was this year’s iteration of an annual contest that focuses on the creation of a healthy habit and reducing traffic.

“The contest generated lots of excitement,” said Charlie Vaughan-Griffith, parent volunteer at Edna Maguire in Mill Valley. “I think the consistency of the four-week challenge enabled kids and parents to focus on every Wednesday as a Walk & Roll day.” 

Notably, the contest included most schools from underserved communities in West Marin, San Rafael, and Novato. Monica Leifer, the SR2S bilingual coordinator, highlighted how those schools were the first ones to take on the challenge –and the fun–, underscoring Safe Routes’ steadfast commitment to equity and inclusivity.

The culmination of the Rainbow Challenge on May 8 coincided with National Bike to School Day. Schools marked the occasion with lively celebrations.

Police officers greeted walkers and riders at Laurel Dell, Neil Cummins, Bacich, and Bahia Vista and distributed gleaming Police Department stickers to students.

In addition to police, some schools also had their respective fire departments escorting bike trains. One of them, Pleasant Valley, where the Marin Independent Journal was present, reported massive” participation. Tam Valley Elementary organized a bike parade with the Southern Marin fire department down Marin Avenue. At Wade Thomas, over 100 children and parents joined a parade of walkers and rollers escorted by a fire truck, according to the organizer, Jason Cardillo.

Sun Valley celebrated with walking and biking groups and over 150 students showing up at the welcome table..

Nearly every day, Safe Routes Instructor and Teen Coordinator, Lou Goodwin, packs up her e-cargo Xtracycle to travel to various schools throughout Marin. Goodwins load includes hot chocolate, popcorn, Jambar treats, and game supplies. She straps on all of that to her bike and delivers it to middle and high schools for their encouragement events.

Some distances are just six miles round trip from Goodwins home in Fairfax. Other times, she can be seen biking at dawn to schools in Mill Valley and Novato.

“It’s fantastic! I can travel farther now that I have an electric Xtracycle. The students are always impressed with how far I travel to get to their school, especially with heavy loads. Its been a game-changer,” she said

  • Ross    Monday, August 5, 2024 at 10 AM
  • Novato    Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 5 PM
  • Kentfield    Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 9:30 AM
  • Reed    Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10 AM
  • West Marin    Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 5 PM
  • San Rafael    Wednesday, September 4 at 5 PM
  • Sausalito-Marin City    Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 5 PM
  • Larkspur-Corte Madera    Thursday, September 26, 2024
    at 4 PM
  • Ross Valley  Friday, September 13, 2024 at 10 AM
  • Mill Valley    Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 9:30 AM
  • Miller Creek    Monday, September 9 at 4 PM

Contact Wendi Kallins if you are interested in joining a task force or if you would like a copy of archived task force meeting notes.

There would not be a Safe Routes to Schools program without dedicated parent volunteers and family liaisons. As the 2023-24 school year comes to an end, the organization would like to recognize their work. Through their commitment and effort, more students are getting to school safely and actively. Although these parents and school staff are “retiring” from their role, their influence will continue to be felt. Safe Routes salutes and thanks the following:

VIRGINIA MENZEL – Loma Verde Elementary

After dedicating 23 years to Novato schools, community liaison Virginia Menzel is retiring from the district. Throughout her time at Loma Verde Elementary, she played a pivotal role in sustaining the program, especially during the past three years. During this period, she actively participated in parent volunteer and family liaison meetings, co-hosted welcome tables, and publicized various events and contests.

BRIA LARSON – Park Elementary

For the past two years, Bria Larson managed a robust Safe Routes program at Park School in Mill Valley. “Walk and Roll Wednesdays were a veritable party at Park School. We had it all…music, smiles, and so many pencils and erasers! I loved getting to know kids from all grades, and even had some student helpers greeting their classmates each month,” Larson said. “The sense of community and fun was infectious.”

Many teachers and school administrators in Marin County use their bikes (or skateboard!) for transportation. Most do it rain or shine, traveling distances as long as Petaluma-San Rafael. Regardless how short or long their commute, these educators exemplify a healthy life style and care for the planet, not only for their students but also for the community at large. They are the perfect roll models. Here are just six of them.

MATT POPE: Venetia Valley School (San Rafael)
Matt Pope is the ultimate “green” commuter. Everyday, he rides SMART from his home in Petaluma to downtown San Rafael. Then, he bikes to Venetia Valley School, where he teaches. Sometimes, Mr. Pope gets off in Novato and rides all the way back to Petaluma. “I never realized how much mental stress comes with driving and waiting in traffic. Now, I arrive at school at least an hour before the bell which gives me time to ground myself, breathe and prepare for each day,” he said.

MIKE RUNYEON: Rancho Elementary (Novato)
“Even in the rain, I still ride. Of course, I make sure to dress accordingly. There is no bad weather, just bad equipment,” says Mike Runyeon, a PE teacher at Rancho Elementary, referring to his endurance during the rainy season. He normally rides SMART from Petaluma to a Novato station and from there, rides his bike to school.

DAVID SNAITH: San Rafael High School (San Rafael)
David Snaith, a math teacher at San Rafael High School, commutes 12 miles two or three days a week. “Seeing people out and about, whether they are walking, riding, or gardening in their front yard is wonderful. That creates a sense of community I never get while in my car,” he said.

JAMES SIEVERT, Bel Aire Elementary (Tiburon)
His love of cycling and children led James Sievert, a teacher by training, to serve as lead instructor with Safe Routes to Schools for ten years. Now, as a PE teacher, Mr. Sievert rides to class from his home in Mill Valley every day, rain or shine, and also does crossing guard duty at his school. He says that, “It is great to help our students who are walking, biking or using remote drop off to get home from school.”

BRANDON DEMONT: Miller Creek Middle School (San Rafael)
Brandon DeMont teaches 7th and 8th grade science. Every day, he commutes about six miles from Fairfax, over a steep hill in Sleepy Hollow and down to Terra Linda, where the school is located. For him, riding his bike is far faster and more rewarding than driving a car. “Riding my bike gives me a chance to get exercise and feel ready for a full day of teaching,” he says. “When I ride home after a busy day I process the events of the day and reflect before joining my wife and two-year-old daughter at home.”

JIMMY LOPEZ: Laurel Dell Elementary (San Rafael)
Laurel Dell students are getting used to seeing their new Principal Jimmy Lopez going around school in his very ‘cool’ skateboard. While it’s not possible for Mr. Lopez to commute on his skateboard because he lives in the East Bay, he doesn’t miss the opportunity to show the children not only his skills but also the benefits of rolling to school. “I have loved skateboarding since I was a kid,” he says.

A brand-new video about how to create a bike train and a walking school bus is now available for all interested on the Safe Routes to Schools website. 

Bike trains” and walking school buses” are groups of students who bike or walk together to school under parental supervision. Traveling as a group increases visibility to cars and therefore makes biking or walking safer. It encourages fun and friendship and it often incorporates cooperation among parents so that some can take the lead while others stay home or go to work. 

The instructional material was put together with the cooperation of seasoned parent volunteers who have been doing it for a long time. During a recorded webinar in April, the volunteers shared their experience and tips on how to succeed at encouraging young riders and their families to join their groups. The webinar is full of useful tips on how to organize a route, how to encourage your child to bike or walk every day, how to communicate and cooperate with other parents in supervising.

Safe Routes to Schools is currently intent on increasing the number of groups traveling together to school all over Marin County in the near future. The walking school bus was transformative for our family because it created an opportunity to spend uninterrupted time without cell phones,” said Juliet Starrett, a parent at Vallecito elementary who started a walking school bus. And, our kids showed up ready for school.” 

Parents who actively commute with their children say it is a precious time to connect with each other and to enjoy some natural sights and sounds along the route.

SR2S Newsletter Spring 2024

SR2S Newsletter Spring 2024

Research/Scan compliments of Dr. Chuck Hillman, University of Illinois

Did you know physical activity encourages greater brain activity as well as general health? And that’s not all. Stanford Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman recommends viewing morning sunlight to increase metabolism, focus, sleep, and immune system function. Movement and sunlight are among his top five activities to improve performance and health.

So, when you and your child walk or ride a bike to school, you’re getting a triple benefit: a more relaxed morning commute, a dose of brain stimulation, and an immune system boost. It could be the single best thing you do for yourself and your child every day.

A Walk & Roll Revolution

To raise awareness of how physical activity makes kids healthier and happier, Safe Routes interviewed Juliet Starrett, a Marin mom, co-founder and CEO of The Ready State, and coauthor (with her husband Kelly) ofThe New York Times best-seller Built to Move, about how she started a walking school bus at her children’s elementary school in Terra Linda.

Juliet found out that in the 1970s, 85 percent of children walked or rode a bike to school. Then, she and her husband decided to set the alarm clock 20 minutes earlier to have enough time to walk to school with their two daughters. That simple decision created a cascade of benefits.

“The walk was an opportunity to spend some uninterrupted, quality time together without cell phones,” she said. “Our kids picked flowers or looked at worms on our walk. It was a very different experience than entering from the drop-off lane.”

Juliet soon read about “walking school buses,” a concept advocated by the federal Department of Transportation, to encourage children and parents to walk to school together. She made a flyer advertising it at Vallecito and outlined meeting places and a route where parents could drop off their kids “rain or shine.”

At first, about 10 children joined the Starretts on their route. Over time, however, more families came along and some parents parked and walked if they lived far away. Friendships formed. On its biggest days, the bus included 40 people.

“Parents would say, ‘I can’t walk because I have a full-time job,’’ Juliet said. “But I also had a full-time job and I still had time to walk in the morning and get to the city by 9 am. It takes a little bit of intention and a little bit of a mindset change to make walking a part of your day.”

Safe Routes to Schools Program Director, Gwen Froh, is set to attend the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., in mid-March. Her mission? To showcase Marin’s e-bike education programs nationally. Froh earned a special invitation from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) due to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) and Safe Routes to Schools’ early provision of e-bike safety classes for teens.

“Two years ago, when I reached out to the LAB and our national Safe Routes to Schools partners to ask if anyone had developed an e-bike safety curriculum for students, no one came forward. Concerns about teen e-bike use were percolating throughout the county and we wanted to act quickly to address them.”

Froh and her team started researching the laws governing e-bike use and the necessary skills for tweens and teens to safely ride them on our streets and pathways.  

The Safe Routes’ Lead Instructor, Tyler Randazzo, researched different kinds of e-bikes, delving into various brands and their capabilities to exceed the maximum speed allowed for under 16-year-olds. A red flag was raised when some Class 2 manufacturers were hiding the recommended age of use of 16 and above in their fine print.

Froh adds, “Tyler kept hearing from students in class that they knew how to switch the throttle bikes to exceed the maximum 20 mph speed limit regulated by CA law.” 

Froh and Randazzo provide dedicated e-bike education in middle schools and teach MCBC’s Teen E-bike Smart Marin classes providing “on-road” education.  “We teach students how to stop quickly and to maneuver around obstacles on devices that are extremely heavy and travel at twice the speed as conventional bikes for this age group.”

If you’re planning to buy your student an e-bike, make it a Class 1.

Matt Willis, MD, MPH – Marin County Public Health Officer

The Safe Routes team also reached out to parents about safety concerns.  Students and parents have been informed of the laws governing e-bike use, including which devices are not considered e-bikes.  These include those that can exceed 20 mph on motor power alone (no pedaling); the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers them “motor vehicles” instead of e-bikes. That’s why the fastest e-bikes are “out of class” and require a license and registration for those over 15 years of age.

Froh concludes, “Marin Safe Routes to Schools has worked successfully with school communities to get more students on bikes for the past 24 years.  As dedicated cycling advocates, we will always prioritize children’s safety first and foremost.  We are committed to guiding parents in making informed, legal decisions based on our extensive professional experience teaching kids for over two decades.  I look forward to carrying this message nationally.”  

Chart from Marin Health and Human Services Dashboard, (October 7, 2023 – Feb. 25, 2024).  Data shows that 10 to 15-year-olds riding e-bikes are six times more likely to have a serious crash than any other age group.  Serious crashes have included severe head trauma and pelvic injury comparable to what occurs when crashing a motorcycle.

Jeff Shankle, a parent from Rancho Elementary, hates to sit in traffic. That is why, for a long time he rode his two sons to school on his cargo bicycle or ran with them to school. Last year, when he thought his children were ready, the three of them started to ride their own bikes.

Inspired by the sight of the family group, some neighborhood kids started asking if they could join the fun. They had organically formed a bike train, which is a group of children on their bikes led by an adult. Due to their persistence and organization, in 2023, the group of eight won the Safe Routes to Schools Bike Hero Award.

Shankle explains how the bike train has evolved over time. They started including others last year, when his sons were in second grade, using word of mouth. The Shankles know many families in the neighborhood, so the children would ask others or they got asked themselves. The father of two explains that, after that, he would reach out to the parents and talk about how it would work. Eventually, he got so many inquiries that hejust started copying and pasting the same text message.

Shankle emphasizes that getting others to be part of his bike train has not been a hard sell at all: “Really, I think, children motivate each other!” he said. “They just want to be with their friends. As much as we parents would like to think we are that persuasive, it is really the kids that keep each other coming back.”

The dad has found that, in order to propagate the number of bike trains to the school, it is important to invite families interested in starting their own to join in at least once. He feels that that offers the newcomers the confidence that they can do it too, with the certainty that riding in a big group is much safer than doing it alone.

How to Start a Bike Train or Walking School Bus

On March 28, 6:00-7:00 pm, elementary school parents and caregivers are invited to attend a Zoom meeting to learn the basics for starting a bike train or walking school bus.  Veteran volunteers will offer tips for organizing and timing your route, how to recruit other parents to help lead the group, and how to participate if you live far from school.  RSVP:  [email protected]

Right on time for the good weather, most elementary schools in Marin County are ready for the Safe Routes to Schools’ Rainbow Contest. The contest will be conducted on April 17 and 24 and May 1 and 8.

Pre-stamped cards will be handed to thousands of students on the first day, stamped during the following contest dates, and finally collected on May 8. Parent volunteers and school administrators will use the returned cards to conduct a drawing for up to two Razor scooters per school site.

In sponsoring a weekly event, Safe Routes to Schools hopes to help create a healthy habit and send a message that walking and rolling to school is easy and sustainable.

Nominations for the Safe Routes Bike Hero Award are now open until May 31st. Bike Heroes are great “roll” models: They are students who get up early to ride regularly, inspire others to bike, obey all rules of the road, and have FUN biking. Parents, administrators, teachers, and friends are invited to nominate their favorite student cyclist for the county-wide award. Two nominated elementary school students and two middle school students will be selected in early June and will be awarded $50 gift cards.

Nominate your BIKE HERO HERE!
View past 2023 winners

Grease up those chains for National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.  All Marin public and private schools are encouraged to join the day of celebration benefiting healthy students and the planet.  Come one and all – even those who live too far, by parking and rolling (or walking) a short distance to school.  Volunteers will hand out reflective, neon stickers to the small pedalers while other prizes will be available for the middle and high schoolers at participating schools.  

Strategic Energy Innovation (SEI) is now partnering with Safe Routes to Schools at Marin’s Title I schools where the urgency to increase active and shared modes of travel is a priority.

“Because SEI is already working with students in many of Safe Routes schools, this partnership will allow for increased awareness of our mission of safety for all students,” said Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director.

The new partner is a natural fit for Safe Routes to Schools, given that it provides leadership training and guidance to students who want to help implement different programs in their campuses. “Students are often great ambassadors and can effectively promote the Safe Routes to Schools programs,” Froh points out. Through SEI’s partnership, for example, students at Hamilton have already completed a walk audit to provide input on safety needs along routes to their campus.

Alexis Fineman, SEI Associate Director, explains that her organization is partnering with Safe Routes to Schools to build student agency and leadership skills for transportation. She points out that SEI’s expanded program, Youth Leading Active Communities (YLAC), is designed to engage students at Marin schools that present obstacles to high levels of active transportation. SEI’s goal is to promote key elements of the program into the classroom, including the identification of suggested routes and support for active transportation across campuses.

The two organizations had previously partnered on a project at Terra Linda High School in 2015.

The City of Novato has a new School Travel Working Group, formed to explore the barriers and opportunities for green travel and to develop programs that would best motivate Novato families to walk, roll, and carpool to campus. Since yellow bus service to schools was cut over a decade ago, many families got into the habit of driving students to campus.    

To address the high rate of school-related traffic, Safe Routes to Schools has partnered with the City of Novato’s Sustainability Coordinator, the Novato School District communications specialist, Sustainable Schools, and the Complete Streets and Pathways Oversight committee members. The team’s goal is to provide access to safe and healthy travel for all students.  Traffic reduction is instrumental to this goal. The committee, created in late 2023, circulated a parent survey and held a mapping workshop for all Novato elementary schools. The group will determine the best strategies for increasing active travel in Novato, including exploring high-priority infrastructure improvements.

Partnerships strengthen the Safe Routes to Schools programs. The adage “it takes a village” definitely applies to changing travel behavior. The systemic approach to Safe Routes to Schools – education, enforcement, engineering, and encouragement – has proven successful time and again. In bringing together all these entities, Safe Routes to Schools and its partners multiply the ability to reach and influence the community.

Last year, fourth grader Myrioline Toussant heard an announcement over the loudspeaker at her school, Ross Valley Charter, that made her heart race.

 “They said I won a bicycle. I felt so happy,” she said.

 The bicycle, part of a donation to Safe Routes to Schools made by Richmond bike manufacturer Cleary Bikes, was the raffle prize on National Bike to School Day last spring. 

 Myrioline says it has five gears and is black with pink on the wheels. “I love the colors,” she said.

 Recently Myrioline joined the  “bike train” organized once a month by parents at Ross Valley Charter and Manor elementary schools (learn more about the Safe Routes webinar on March 28, from 6:00-7:00 pm – How to Form a Bike Train). Her uncle drops her off at the meet-up spot about one mile away from school. She says that when she is unable to join the bike train, she carpools or takes the bus with friends instead.   

 The bike is the first Myrioline has owned. She learned to ride on her brother’s bike but it had training wheels. “It felt good to ride my bike the first time,” she said.

 “She was the perfect person to win it,” said Page Hersey, director of Ross Valley Charter, who made the announcement over the loudspeaker. “She works so hard and her family are great members of our community. We were thrilled.”

Over 200 students from Kent Middle School walked or biked to school on February 16 for the opportunity to win one of 50 spots for a waffle party sponsored by Kent Eco-Action Club, Zero Waste Marin and Safe Routes to Schools. The waffles, topped with whipped cream, were served to the winners during lunch time.

To win, the participants approached the welcome table and pulled out a ticket from a bag containing raffle tickets with either a sad or a happy face. The recipients of the happy face were invited to the waffle party. Five toasters and 12 students working non-stop served up the fun.

Sad face? Students were instructed to go to the Zero Waste Marin table where they could learn about waste reduction and have the opportunity to win water bottles and bamboo cutlery.

  • Ross Valley – Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10 AM 
  • Novato – Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 5 PM
  • Kentfield – Thursday April 18, 2024 at 9:30 AM
  • Reed – Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10 AM
  • West Marin – Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 5 PM
  • San Rafael – Wednesday, May 1 at 5 PM
  • Sausalito-Marin City – Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 5 PM
  • Larkspur-Corte Madera – Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 4 PM
  • Ross – Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10 AM
  • Mill Valley – Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 9:30 AM 

Thousands of students across Marin County have braved the rain and, sometimes the cold, to benefit from the cycling and pedestrian safety classes offered by Safe Routes to Schools in 2024. Even many more children participated in the February and March encouragement events, during which they collected incentives and raffle prizes. Both the education and encouragement programs have been received with joy and plenty of smiles.

SR2S Newsletter Winter 2023-2024

SR2S Newsletter Winter 2023-2024

The meeting will be at the TAM office, 900 5th Street, San Rafael
from 10:30 am -12:30 pm. Parent volunteers and family liaisons are welcome.

RSVP at [email protected] or [email protected]

We are still beaming from the tremendous embrace of Ruby Bridges Day hosted at 42 elementary schools throughout Marin. A huge thank you to our volunteers, principals, and teachers who made record numbers’ possible. Similarly, International Walk and Roll to School Days had jaw-dropping numbers of families walking and rolling to school. We were honored to have the Marin IJ cover both events at Pleasant Valley and Loma Verde schools.

Lots of buddies walked, biked, rode the bus, and carpooled together for increased fun and safety. Read about the Buddy Up contest to learn the winners.

(Photo) Buddy-Up winners from Rancho Elementary)

 

Our outreach is growing thanks to the collective efforts of so many of you. Let us close this semester by acknowledging the ongoing dedication and partnership of our 58 schools, including middle and high schools. The ripple effectiveness of Safe Routes to Schools is also due to the support from city officials, neighbors, local sustainability groups and many, many more who are committed to bringing healthy and safe travel to all students.

We are one community in this endeavor.

It is an honor to work beside you to serve your children. Thank you for giving us that privilege.

– Gwen Froh,
Program Director, and Marin Safe Routes to Schools Team

With an impressive student turnout at 42 elementary schools, Safe Routes to Schools celebrated its first ever county-wide Ruby Bridges Walk and Roll to School Day on Nov. 15. The event highlighted the significance of Ruby Bridges, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement during the 1960s.

Ruby Bridges made history as the first African American child to attend an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. At the age of six, she bravely faced hostility not only during her daily walk to class, but also when all her classmates left the school upon her arrival.

“This celebration provides a unique opportunity to teach students about equity and the civil rights movement while making connections between transportation and racial justice in our work,” said Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director.
Prior to the event, all elementary school room teachers read Ruby’s inspirational story to their students, to foster empathy and encourage them to participate in the event.

Deena Blas, a parent volunteer from Pleasant Valley, said, “Ruby Bridges Walk and Roll to School Day is a call to action to continue our journey to end racism and all forms of bullying in our schools.” Blas also highlighted the environmental benefits of reducing vehicular traffic on the roads. Blas’ school had a turnout of over 200 students proudly waving purple Ruby Bridges Flags. The Marin Independent Journal covered the event at Pleasant Valley. To read the story, click HERE.

Despite unfavorable weather forecasts, schools remained steadfast in holding their event. Loma Verde parent volunteer Kelly Smith remarked, “If Ruby was able to take crowds of yelling people, screaming threats, and getting things thrown at her, we can take a little rain.”

Venetia Valley’s parent volunteer, Heather Crossen, echoed Smith’s sentiment, stating, “Ruby overcame all obstacles in her route to school every day. What’s a little rain to us? Maybe we’ll just have a bad hair day.”
Bahia Vista Elementary reported the participation of approximately 250 students, with San Rafael Police Sergeant Scott Ingels distributing incentives to the walkers and rollers.

The celebration extended beyond Marin County, with the American Automobile Association (AAA) reporting that over 650,000 students nationwide walked in honor of Ruby Bridges.

Follow the rainbow to a healthier planet and less traffic congestion. This spring, Safe Routes will hold a “Rainbow Quest” contest to encourage students to walk, bike, carpool, or bus to school. The spring contest gives students who actively travel to school the chance to participate in a raffle at their school, with prizes provided by Safe Routes. This year’s raffle prizes will be scooters and helmets.

“The contest is a fun way to encourage students to cultivate the habit of walking or riding to school. Once habits are set, kids become walkers and riders for life,” said Monica Leifer, Safe Routes’ bilingual volunteer coordinator.

Schools will hold four weekly events on April 17, April 24, May 1, and May 8 as a lead-up to National Bike to School Day on May 8. On contest days, students who use active modes of transportation or who carpool or bus will get a stamp on their contest card. On May 8, students who show a stamped card will be able to enter the raffle at their school.

The Rainbow Quest contest for 2024 follows last year’s J.E.D.I. contest. Over 3,000 students participated last year.

Other events planned for the spring include Valentine’s Day (February 7), Dr. Seuss Day (March 6), and a Bike Hero contest in May. Bike Heroes are students who bike regularly to school and are nominated for recognition by parents or school administrators.

The 2023 Buddy Up Contest had every age group represented from kindergarteners to high schoolers, fostering a sense of camaraderie and promoting sustainable transportation habits. A total of thirty-eight Buddy Up groups, representing 17 different schools, participated in this heartwarming event that unfolded from October 1 to November 15.

To enter the competition, parents and students nominated groups of students who regularly walk, bike, carpool, or take the bus together. The narratives shared by the participants painted a vivid picture of their journeys to school, with phrases like “they feel stronger together,” “the bigger kids help the younger ones,” “they are chatting all the way,” “there’s fresh air,” “they have a sense of camaraderie,” and “it is fun to be with friends.”

Six outstanding buddy groups emerged as winners, each receiving $50 gift cards to be used for a memorable outing together. Safe Routes to Schools extends its heartfelt thanks to all the parents who contributed nominations and words of encouragement. For a dose of inspiration, you can explore these touching stories on our website at www.saferoutestoschools.org.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

  • Hidden Valley Elementary, ride bikes daily: Julia (4th grade), Milla (4th grade), Olivia (4th grade)
  • Neil Cummins Elementary, walk daily: Henry (3rd grade), Eloise (3rd grade), Natalie (3rd grade)
  • Rancho Elementary, ride daily: Amalia (1st grade), Theo, Sol, Alison, Isla, Karol (3rd grade), Wendy (4th grade), Abraham, Haden (5th grade)
  • Kent Middle, ride daily: Mary (5th grade), Liv (5th grade), Simone (5th grade)
  • Miller Creek Middle, ride daily: Nicholas (6th grade), Charlie (6th grade), James (6th grade), Sidney (6th grade), Jakob (6th grade)
  • San Marin High School, carpool daily: Scottie-Marie (9th grade), Parker (9th grade), Gael (9th grade)

The Buddy Up Contest not only celebrates the spirit of togetherness but also recognizes the positive impact of shared commutes on our communities.

Before attending a bike class taught by Safe Routes to Schools Marin, Miller Creek sixth grader Danella Chinchilla Contreras had a fear of bicycles. As a small child, she had once tried to ride a bike, fallen over, and broken her foot. The memory of a subsequent hospital visit was all she could recall from the experience.

“I was really nervous [about falling again],” Danella said, about attending the bike class. Safe Routes to Schools offers a class on bike handling, safety, and equipment to every Marin sixth grader as part of their physical education class. Students who are new to cycling can practice with an instructor in a “Learn to Ride” group at almost any bike class.

Safe Routes instructor Chris Allen took Danella aside to practice balancing, and then peddling, on a bike. It took Danella about two attempts with Chris keeping the bike steady before she started riding on her own. “I learned really fast,” she said happily.

“It makes what I do out here feel so great,” said Chris, who joined Safe Routes this year and is an experienced mountain and BMX rider. “I’ve never seen a happier kid in one of our bike rodeos.”

Danella described the many ways learning to ride has given her confidence. She said she is teaching her five-year-old cousin to ride and that she hopes Christmas this year will include a bike of her own. She is also thinking about riding to school instead of getting driven by her father. “I’m really happy about being able to ride,” she said.

In October, Marin Health & Human Services started tracking e-bike related injuries reported by Marin Emergency Medical Services. Within one month, 71% of bicycle-related crashes needing parametric assistance involved children ages 10 to 19 riding e-bikes. Read the County of Marin Press Release here.

Details are unknown, but we must not assume it was the e-biker’s fault. However, it’s a wake-up call for parents thinking about purchasing an e-bike for their children this holiday season. Speed matters in the severity of injury.

“We fully support getting kids and adults on bikes, including e-bikes, as a healthy and fun way to get around independently,” said Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis. “The message is really about doing it more safely.”

In a presentation for Novato parents, Safe Routes’ Program Director Gwen Froh clarified the varying classes of e-bikes that parents might consider buying. “We have heard parents say they have been hoodwinked into gifting a Class II throttle e-bike to their child. Safe Routes’ goal is to help them make informed decisions by dispelling myths about E-bikes.

Myth 1: Class I e-bikes cannot travel up hills. Not true. One needs to pedal to assist the motor, but hills can be climbed just fine with a little bit of effort. Parents are therefore being pressured into buying a “cooler” Class II throttle e-bike where pedaling is optional.

Myth 2: Class II throttle e-bikes are manufactured to only go 20 mph. Not true either. Many of the moped-type Class II can be altered to go faster than 20 mph and some students say that they know how to do this or have tried.

Myth 3: CA law does not have age restriction on Class I or II e-bikes, so kids of all ages can ride them. If a student is unable to ride a non-motorized bike that averages 10 mph for their age bracket, then students should not be allowed to ride an e-bike that travels twice as fast, takes longer to stop, and is harder to maneuver. Class III is illegal for students under 16.

What about passengers? A passenger makes an e-bike heavier and harder to stop and maneuver. Passengers should use seats designed for them, follow the manufacturer’s limit and wear helmets for safety.

Students have been reported riding popular brands such as Super 73 which can be switched to an “off road” mode to exceed 28 mph. As such, these are dangerous and illegal on roads and pathways. The manufacturer does not recommend them for children under 16 years old.

According to Froh, Safe Routes’ educators have always told parents that they must determine if their child is road-ride-ready; They bear the financial, legal and moral responsibility for what can happen. For this reason, they need to evaluate their students’ ability to drive any device – a bicycle, scooter, e-bike, e-scooter, and ultimately a car. It is imperative that parents are aware of their child’s ability to stand up to peer pressure and ensure their student is properly trained to navigate the nuances of riding the streets.

Additional Parent Resources:

Safe Routes to Schools Parent E-bike Info flyer
(assessment for determining if student is ready to ride an e-bike)

Marin County Bicycle Coalition E-bike Buyers Guide
(includes brands that are recommended)

Electric Bicycle Safety and Training Program, California Highway Patrol
(on-line, interactive education tutorial)

League of American Bicyclist E-Bike Guide To Safe Riding (informational and educational videos)

Important Tips!

  • Track your students’ speed: The Life360 app allows you to see how fast your student is driving their bike or car.
  • Protect your student’s head! E-bikers are recommended to wear a helmet with a Dutch NTA-8776 certification. Helmets with this certification pass a higher drop test to dissipate energy in crashes at higher speeds.
  • Make your student seen! Lights on the front and back of e-bikes should be on at all times. Bright clothing will help other drivers see them on the roads.
Parents, educators and Safe Routes to Schools came together in a unique way this Fall to address increasing student safety needs at Bahia Vista Elementary, located in the Canal. Safe Routes to School normally teaches just the younger students how to cross a street. However, in just one week in November, the organization had all of the 2nd to 5th graders – over 300 students – learn and then practice real life pedestrian skills along Bahia Way.

Safe Routes delivered the ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ curriculum, which includes a walking field trip. In 15 separate classes, students watched a video about children helping each other make difficult decisions on when and how to cross a street. Safe Routes instructors then led each class on a “Walk Around the Block,” so students could practice what they learned about awareness, driveways, and parked cars.

The need for this marathonic teaching was made clear in April 2023, when the family center from Bahia Vista contacted Safe Routes to express their worry about many children dashing alone across Bahia way without even checking for passing traffic.

Safe Routes worked with school administrators to bring all interested parties together. The community expressed serious concerns at two very well-attended meetings. They conveyed their frustration about fellow parents who speed in front of the school, double park, and even drop off students in the middle of the street.

At that point, it was clear that education for safe travel was critical. Also, a walk audit was conducted to look for possible solutions regarding the infrastructure around campus. Very quickly, traffic engineers from Parametrix proposed a new pedestrian crossing and additional signage along Bahia Way. Safe Routes to Schools is currently looking for funding to implement these projects.

It has been eight years since Deb Hubsmith’s passing at the age of 46, but her footprint on this world is proving indeleble. Her memoir, The Wind at Her Back, just released in October 2023 describes how in 1999, Hubsmith started Safe Routes to Schools with her friend Wendi Kallins, who still works for the organization as the Task Force Coordinator. Hubsmith also launched the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Hubsmith’s memoir, authored by her husband, Andy Peri, and one of her best friends, Amity Hotchkiss, recounts how she contributed to change the landscape of human-powered transportation in Marin County and eventually, in the rest of the U.S.
Through Hubsmith’s never-take-no-for-an-answer attitude, Safe Routes to Schools turned into a national organization by securing funding from Congress. “She would convince people with a combination of grace, encyclopedic knowledge, and a tenacity that wouldn’t quit,” said Kallins. She adds that Husbmith worked very hard to find support from all parties involved in infrastructure projects in Marin.

The memoir recounts her remarkable life including her tragic death from Leukemia. This is a biography of a woman who immersed herself in nature, inspired by her love of planet Earth, for which she had a deep reverence and fierce dedication.

In the book’s foreword, U.S. Congressman Jared Hoffman says, “Throughout my years in the California State Assembly, Deb was my go-to authority for anything bike or alternative transportation-related…With this intimate accounting of her life, Andy and Amity share Deb’s remarkable and contagious devotion to this planet and its people.”

A copy of the book can be found at https://pagepublishing.com/books/?book=the-wind-at-her-back-the-life-of-transportation-visionary-deb-a-hubsmith

A Facebook page with a list of events is here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Deb-Hubsmith-Book/6155174766531

  • Kentfield – Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 9:30 AM
  • Ross Valley – Friday, January 12 at 10:00 AM
  • Novato – Wednesday, January 17 at 5:00 PM
  • Sausalito-Marin City – Thursday, January 18 at 5:00 PM
  • Ross – Monday, January 22 at 10:00 AM
  • San Rafael – Wednesday, January 24 at 5:00 PM
  • Reed – Thursday, January 25 at 10:00 AM
  • Miller Creek – Monday, January 29 at 3:30 PM
  • Mill Valley – Thursday, February 1 at 9:30 AM
  • West Marin – Tuesday, February 6 at 5:00 PM
  • Larkspur-Corte Madera – Thursday, February 8 at 5:00 PM

 

Contact Wendi Kallins if you are interested in joining a task force or if you would like a copy of archived task force meeting notes.

 

SR2S Newsletter Fall 2023

SR2S Newsletter Fall 2023

Join thousands of students who walk, bike, scooter, ride the bus, and carpool to school. 

Traffic reduction is key to calmer, safer streets. This encourages more families to walk and bike to schools, further reducing traffic. You can help! 

Safe Routes to Schools has several fun activities planned throughout the school year to keep momentum going. Consider Buddying Up with friends and come to a welcome table to get a prize when Walk and Roll Wednesdays are celebrated once per month. The first Walk and Roll Wednesday welcome table is September 13. Mood changing pencils will be handed out to thank the walkers and rollers for doing their part to create safer streets and a healthier planet. 

EVERY STEP YOU TAKE helps reduce traffic and invigorates your student for a day of learning, even if it’s only once per week or only a few blocks. Here is a simple way everyone can be part of the solution, even for those who live far away:

Park and Walk a Block for Your Grade (carpoolers encouraged to do so too)
• K-1st graders – Park and Walk 1 block
• 2nd graders – Park and Walk 2 blocks
• 3rd graders – Park and Walk 3 blocks
• 4th and 5th graders – Park and Walk 4 or more blocks

Start small to form habits: Get up and get out to walk and roll at least one day per week to form a consistent routine with your child. Try to Walk and Roll EVERY Wednesday to start. Before long, your student will look forward to walking hand in hand with you, exploring, and forming memories together.

The Safe Routes to Schools BUDDY UP! contest was a great hit last fall and will return again this year. Buddy Up! is a great way to start the year with friendship and fun on the way to school, and kids can also win valuable rewards by participating. If your students have a travel “buddy”, they are more likely to want to get up a little earlier to walk, bike, take the bus, or carpool to school together. Additionally, there is safety in numbers and groups are more easily seen by drivers. Best of all, friendships and memories are formed by walking and rolling with others.

Participation is easy. Starting now, parents can sign up their group of two or more students from neighboring families to travel to or from school. O Sign up using this Buddy Up Entry Form, and don’t forget to tell us how the students met, what they like about traveling together, and any compelling fun story we can share.

The contest runs until October 31. At the end of the contest Safe Routes to Schools will select five winning BUDDY UP! groups to receive $50 gift cards.

Here is one heartwarming quote from Michelle Wilcox, the mother of one of the Bacich students who won last year:

“This group of third graders has been riding to and from school and affectionately been nicknamed “The Peloton” by neighbors who witness their numbers swell as they pick up more and more friends along the way to Bacich. They’re always looking out for each other, on the road and at school. They love being in a large group because it makes it easy to maintain the habit of riding every day, even when one or two people can’t make it. There’s always someone (and more often lots of people) to ride with!”

For the first time, Safe Routes to Schools is rolling out Ruby Bridges Walk and Roll to School Day countywide on November 15. All 42 subscribing elementary schools are encouraged to participate in the event.

Safe Routes will provide its volunteers and school administrators with all publicity and supplies for this special event. Schools can include not only the walkers, but also those students who prefer to roll, take the bus, park and walk, or carpool.

Back in the 1950s, Ruby Bridges was a six-year old African American girl in Louisiana who was assigned to attend an all-white educational institution. She endured verbal abuse from bystanders during her daily walk to class, and most of her white classmates were pulled out of school after she started attending. Ruby and her parents persevered, and over time, the school was successfully desegregated. Now Ruby is a teacher dedicated to inspiring others.

Last year, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy in Sausalito celebrated the achievements of Ruby Bridges by walking to campus. “Eight students from our middle school traveled to our elementary school to host the event. Heavy rain occurred on that day so we could not hold the session outdoors, but our students walked from classroom to classroom, promoting Ruby’s story and the Safe Routes mission,” said Phillip Logan, Community School Director with the Sausalito-Marin City School District.

According to AAA, last year 343,000 students from 1,400 schools around the United States took part in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

As Safe Routes to Schools’ new Volunteer Coordinator, Mira is excited to join forces with dedicated parent volunteers at elementary schools all across Marin to make walking and rolling to school a healthy habit.

Mira brings a background in marketing writing and project management to Safe Routes to Schools. She has worked in communications and outreach with a number of nonprofit organizations including the University of San Francisco and the YMCA of the East Bay. She is especially appreciative of the opportunity Safe Routes to Schools provides to build stronger school communities.

A Marin Native and Novato resident, Mira loves to bike and walk around her community, often in company with Russ, her Australian Shepherd. She has two children who attend Novato schools, where she also volunteers. Her most memorable cycling adventure was spending two months touring South Africa with her husband.

Please drop Mira an email and introduce yourself or let her know if you have any questions or concerns: [email protected].

As e-bikes and e-scooters have surged in popularity with students in Marin, so has public outcry over concerns for students’ safety. School administrators, city officials, and local law enforcement have been besieged by complaints about students traveling too fast, many without helmets, while swerving rapidly past cars and pedestrians on sidewalks not wide enough to handle them.

Two Marin communities have taken steps to mitigate unsafe behavior on hefty devices that allow children to travel at twice the speed students normally travel on non-motorized bikes or scooters.

The Ross School partnered with the Ross police department to develop a “Caught Being Kind” incentive program to award kindergarten through eighth grade students for good riding behavior. Ross law enforcement hands out Caught Being Kind cards for wearing helmets, riding slowly, and obeying the laws. The cards can be entered into a raffle drawing for ice cream, pizza, and other sought after gift cards. Ross teacher Ms. Caitlin Santin led her Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) students to create the safety campaign and a video to promote it.

In Mill Valley, where e-bikes are prevalent among the 600 middle and high school students that ride to school daily, Police Department Chief Rick Navarro is taking a different approach. After a year of outreach and education about wearing helmets and riding responsibly, the Mill Valley Police Department changed their local ordinance to give police authority to cite students for a diversion program, mandating that they attend a class taught by Safe Routes to Schools instructors. The teen class is part of Marin County Bicycle Coalitions’ E-Bike Smart Marin program and carries a $150 fee to attend. Twenty students will be attending the first class in Mill Valley on September 9.

Chief Navarro says, “Thank you again, for all that you are doing to allow students to be successful and safe. We in law enforcement truly appreciate the partnership.”

They are basically mini-motorcycles. I got hoodwinked into buying one.” Anonymous parent of a teen about Class II e-bike

Marin Safe Routes to Schools strongly discourages parents from purchasing Class 2 throttle e-bikes for children under the age of 16.

Many popular manufacturers of Class 2 e-bikes also only recommend them for teens 16 and over. Several states have already outlawed Class 2 e-bikes for students under 16, and California legislation is currently debating if our state’s law should be revised as well. Currently California law states that Class I (pedal assist) and Class 2 e-bikes are legal for children of any age, while Class 3 (throttle assist bikes that travel up to 28 mph) have an age restriction of 16 years and above. For parent e-bike safety tips, read here.

Securing the funds for the projects that make it safer to walk and roll to school is key to ensure that these projects are studied, designed, and ultimately built. Recently 11 projects throughout Marin County were awarded almost $20 million in grant funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s highly competitive Active Transportation Program and One Bay Area Grant program. A number of these projects will directly impact students’ abilities to walk and roll to school.
Five projects in San Rafael received funding through the grant programs. Over $8 million will be devoted to two projects in the Canal neighborhood. Some of them include the study of a pedestrian bridge across San Rafael Creek and the funding of walking and rolling improvements throughout the neighborhood, such as filling sidewalk gaps, improving lighting, and calming traffic. Other projects will study active transportation upgrades in North San Rafael and Southeast San Rafael and will make changes at the Second Street/Fourth Street intersection.
Corte Madera also received a $3.5 million funding for two projects. One of them will aim to close gaps in the active transportation network by improving the multi-use pathway on Wornum Drive and adding a cycle track on Nellen Avenue. The second project will focus on making improvements along Paradise Drive.
In Sausalito, half a million dollars will go towards studying bike lanes along Bridgeway from Princess Street to Richardson Street. This would fill a critical gap in the City’s active transportation network.
With all these recent wins, it is clear to see that Marin County is making strides to improve walking and rolling for its students.
Task Force ChangeTask Force Change

The Safe Routes Task Forces will take a fresh approach to engage the whole community in increasing green trips to and from school, thereby decreasing traffic congestion in the community.
At each task force meeting, we’ll use new, data-driven tools to determine the potential of each school to increase walking and rolling trips. These tools include dot maps, which use anonymized student data to show how many students live within walking or biking distance of school. We’ll also consider student survey results that show the different modes students use to get to and from school. These tools will allow the task forces to focus their attention on the best strategies for increasing green trips.

Safe Routes to Schools will also organize separate meetings with district principals to get their input on how best to increase green trips in their schools. Equity priority schools will have the opportunity to have separate meetings if parents are unable to attend task force meetings. Our new partners, Strategic Energy Innovations, will be developing leadership programs in those schools to engage the students.

Please come with your suggestions on how to increase access to walking, biking, and shared transportation choices for school communities. With your support, a culture of active and shared commute to schools can be realized with safer streets for students.

In only one year since their return to the Safe Routes to Schools program, the efforts of parent volunteers from Marin Primary School is paying off. They have seen a significant jump in the levels of participation in their Rock and Roll Wednesdays events. Last year, an average of 55 students walked or rolled to school with a record-setting 100-plus participants on some Wednesdays; this is an exceptionally high number for a private school where commutes are typically long.

“It was fun to see participants from our entire community show up on those mornings,” said Dana Cole, one of the parent volunteers who helped organize the events. “There was so much enthusiasm.”

Cole and her fellow volunteer, Catherine Hedrick, reignited the green travel campaign after the program lapsed at the school. They created enthusiasm for walking and rolling by adding a theme and dressing up. For November’s Walk and Roll, for example, they donned fuzzy hats in the shape of turkeys. After the holiday break, they turned hosting the events over to the students. Once a month, a different class added a spin of their own, creating the theme, prizes, or treats. One class hosted a spring flowers-themed Wednesday. Another used St. Patrick’s Day as their theme.

The incentives were key, acknowledged Cole and Hedrick. The PTA decided to add to the prizes offered by Safe Routes to School. And they had plenty of treats, like doughnut holes. “[They] were the real prize of the morning,” Hedrick said.

“We are hoping for another successful year and clear days ahead,” Cole said.

Bike trains for elementary school walkers and riders are a fun way to encourage healthy green travel. Parents Joey and Stacy Shepp from Manor Elementary have led an enthusiastic, two-mile bike train route for the past few years. Several meet-up locations en route encourage families to join in.

“[It’s] an exciting parade to school where the kids have fun waving to all the onlookers who smile back,” said Joey Shepp. Going above and beyond, the Shepps help their young riders practice responsible riding including observing traffic signs, using hand signals, and following bike lanes and sharrows, all while getting to school early to enjoy prizes from the monthly Walk and Roll Wednesday table.

Twice a year, the bike train becomes a real parade, with a fire truck and police car escort down Sir Francis Drake boulevard. And last year, the bike train added students from Ross Valley Charter.

Safe Routes to Schools has often been described as fostering community building, creating friendships and family connectedness through the simple pleasure of walking and rolling to school together. This sentiment is echoed by the Shepps. “It is a great way to be social with other parents and kids, establishing a face-to-face community that you just don’t get when you drive to school.”

According to the Shepps, more than half of Manor’s students participated in the school’s Walk and Roll Wednesday events last year. Joey Shepp adds, “when we make announcements about the Walk and Roll program at our morning school assemblies, the kids cheer with excitement and purpose. I believe many families have started biking and walking to school because of this program, and continue to make it a habit because their kids love the community and prizes. I consider Walk and Roll to be a core program of our school’s culture and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

This article was originally published in the 2018/2019 Safe Routes to Schools evaluation report conducted by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM). TAM conducts the comprehensive evaluation every three years. Here is the 2019/20 – 2021/22 Evaluation Report; the Shepps’ story can be found on page 36. [17 MB file]

SR2S Newsletter Summer 2023

SR2S Newsletter Summer 2023

Clockwise from top: Volunteer Erick Betancourt with students from Ross Valley Charter form a bike train to celebrate National Bike to School Day. | Lynwood student Hanna Jasson, 9, dressed as Yoda for National Bike to School Day and the end of the Return of the J.E..DI. challenge. | Marin student Rosario Mendoza is elated to be declared the winner of a Cleary bike on May 3. | Owen Wentzel at Miller Creek.

On the cold, rainy morning of May 3rd, over 3,000 students from 38 Marin schools walked and rolled to school to celebrate National Bike to School Day. The date also marked the grand finale of the Return of the J.E.D.I. Challenge, a three-month-long contest organized by Safe Routes to Schools.

National Bike to School Day is the second largest celebration of active transportation held by Safe Routes to Schools every year.

.Many schools went big on their celebrations this year: Reed, Bel Aire, Vallecito, Manor and Ross Valley Charter organized bike trains, Lynwood Elementary registered a 74% percent participation, and Loma Verde offered additional prizes for walkers and rollers. They represent just a few examples of the celebratory spirit during Bike to School Day in the County.

“Kids were really excited about the JEDI Challenge. The day before every event, I sent out a text to remind the parents and increase the participation. I think it was very fun,” noted Loma Verde Community Liaison Virginia Menzel.

.To participate in the challenge, students walked, biked, scooted, skated, rode the bus or carpooled to school and visited the Safe Routes’ welcome table, where parent volunteers handed them “J.E.D.I. cards.” These were stamped by the volunteers on every other Wednesday and entered into a drawing. Cleary Bikes, a Richmond-based kids’ bikes dealership, and Marin-based Mike’s Bikes donated one bike and one helmet respectively per school site.

“I am a single mom and it’s been hard for me to provide my daughter with many things,” said Thera Thompson, the mother of 11-year-old Jewel Argueta, a fifth grader from Olive Elementary who won one of the bikes. She notes that her daughter, in fact, did not own a bike. Thompson adds that, “Jewel has walked to school every day on her own for the last two years and it’s far, so I think this bike will help her with her independence.” Jewel will be using the bike to commute to Sinaloa Middle School next year.

Eight-year-old Brandon Rodas, a second grader from Loma Verde, had a gut feeling he was going to win the bike, according to his mom, Hilda Rodas. “He mentioned that in the morning and he called later from the school and told me, ‘I told you I was going to win it!’,” she said. Rodas added that she and her husband had been meaning to buy a new bike for Brandon for a while because the one he is using is way too small, but they also did not have the money to replace it.

“It’s been an inspiration seeing how excited the kids get for the group rides to school, many of them with smiles ear to ear going into their classes. These kids are our future adult commuters that are learning the importance of safe routes and the partnership needed between all road users to make it work. I’m really excited to continue working with parents and MCBC on this great program.”

Volunteer mechanics from the Bike Mobile fixed about 50 bicycles for free on Saturday, May 20th at Pickleweed Park in San Rafael. The event, organized by the Marin Bicycle Coalition and Safe Routes to Schools, demonstrated their commitment to the Canal community.

One of the goals of the event is to help low-income students restore their bikes so they can be enjoyed safely. This meant new tires, fresh brake pads, and chains, among other things. Student mechanic, Nayed Garcia, a two-time Bike Fest volunteer, said, “The event is incredibly empowering and it feels great to renew these bikes and then get to see them pedaled around the neighborhood all summer long.”

In addition, Safe Routes hosted a comprehensive bicycle safety class, attended by 30 enthusiastic young riders. Many of them were Bahia Vista Elementary students, ages five to 10. The class covered essential safety rules, responsible riding behavior, and the correct use of safety gear. The aim was to empower these young riders with the knowledge they need to safely navigate their neighborhood, contributing to a safer, healthier community.

But what’s a Bike Fest without a parade? As an event finale, MCBC and Safe Routes organized a family-friendly bike parade along the scenic Bay Trail, chaperoned by teens from the Cory’s Ride Bicycle Club who are models of safe riding behavior.

The organizers are already planning for next year’s event, which may feature a helmet giveaway. “The safety of our young riders is paramount, and we believe that this initiative will further contribute to their well-being and confidence as they explore their neighborhood on two wheels,” said Safe Routes to Schools Volunteer Coordinator Cooper Miley.

Loma Verde parent volunteer Kelly Smith tends to a welcome table in the Spring.

Bringing the Safe Routes to Schools program to life takes a village. A crew of over 115 parent volunteers (some of them PTA Presidents), community liaisons, teachers, principals, and office managers, joined the seven staff members from Safe Routes to Schools, to make it happen for the children of Marin.

Safe Routes to Schools wants to thank all the people involved in 52 schools. Because of all of them, Safe Routes to Schools managed to host 350 morning welcome tables to greet walkers and rollers and to teach over 10,000 students how to ride and walk safely. Many volunteers and school administrators also attended the Task Force Meetings, where they voiced their concerns about infrastructure surrounding the schools.

Simply put, Safe Routes to Schools would not exist without all of them. Here are the members of our 2022-23 village that brought life skills and joy to thousands of children this year.

A whopping 74% of Lynwood Elementary’s families walked and rolled to school for what turned into an umbrella party by the school entrance on May 3rd. The date marked the celebration of the National Bike to School Day, the second most important celebration of active transportation organized by Safe Routes to Schools every spring. It was also the wrap up of the three-month-long challenge, the Return of the J.E.D.I.

Ten parent volunteers, loud pop music, hundreds of incentives big and small, and ample coverage by the Marin Independent Journal were part of the big celebration. To read the full story published by the Marin Independent Journal, click HERE.

“This has been a great success today,” Interim Principal Rick Van Adelsberg told the Marin IJ. “Folks just stepped up in spite of the rain.” He noted that he saw the least number of cars at drop off since December, when he started working at Lynwood.

The effort was led by parent volunteer Janet Carter, who created a huge publicity buzz in her community. Carter considers that encouraging families who live far from the school to park and walk the rest of the way substantially increased the participation in the contest.

For the occasion, Safe Routes to Schools raffled off a bike donated by Cleary Bikes and a helmet donated by Mike’s Bikes. Carter also approached local businesses for prizes, securing 100 bike bells from Class Cycle and sixty $5 gift cards from Little Monkeys toy store. Both businesses are from Novato.

The noise the students made with the bike bells could be heard all over the Lynwood campus during the extent of the event. At the end of the event, Nathaly Ramos Pérez, a third grader, won the bicycle and helmet.

Other children were just happy to be there for the celebration. “We like walking to school. It’s easier than to get in the car. We like the small prizes we receive on Walk and Roll Days and the idea that somebody we know can win the big prize is exciting,” said 9-year-old Kairi Leyland, who is in fourth grade. She walks to school regularly with her little sister Astrid, 6, a kindergartener.

Marin Safe Routes to Schools is proud to announce the winners of the Bike Hero awards. There were 138 nominations and 24 schools represented in our BIKE HERO 2023 contest! Teachers, parents, neighbors, and fellow students sent in testimonials of students leading their peers, climbing big hills, and helping little brothers – all while obeying the rules of the road on bike. Two students were selected from elementary and two students from middle for the 2023 award. Congratulations to them and to all the students who were nominated!

Here is what friends and family had to say about our BIKE HEROES for 2023:

Ulysses Levitt, Laurel Dell, Kindergarten:
Ulysses deserves to win the Bike Hero award, because from the start of Kindergarten he consistently rode his bike to school. Beyond his consistency, partway through the year, on his way to school one day he fell off his bike and broke his arm. After getting a cast and rehabilitating it, he has gotten back on his bike and has been trying to conquer the spot that he fell off. He has been taking some steps to rebuild his confidence (like putting training wheels back on and walking his bike through the spot he fell off), but he continues to try! It is this dedication and determination in a 6 year old that I think is the definition of a Bike to School Hero.

Maggie Arenas, Hidden Valley Elementary, 4th grade:
Since kindergarten, Maggie has been riding her bike to and from school (two miles each way from Fairfax to Hidden Valley). She rides her bike rain or shine, 90 degrees or 28 degrees wearing double gloves and a puffy coat. We are so grateful that we are able to continue our jobs because she can ride her bike to school. She also encourages others in our neighborhood to ride too. Maggie cares for the environment and hopes to continue to navigate the busy roads (especially Butterfield) by riding her bike through fifth grade next year, and of course when she starts White Hill too. We are so proud of our Bike to School Hero from the moment she started riding as a 6 year old until this very moment as a 10 year old.

August Larsen, San Jose Intermediate, 8th grade:
August is a safe and friendly rider. He has ridden his bike to school daily for three years and now is looking forward to high school riding. He is safe and reads the traffic well. He rides with his brother and encourages him to get up the “big hill” on Sunset. I’ve seen him take care of others while on his bike, offering to help put a chain back on or help change a tire. He is always on his bike!

Aurora DeVilbiss, Kent Middle, 8th grade:
I am Aurora’s neighbor and I frequently see her biking to school much earlier than many students, showing me that she has an early program to get to. As an 8th grader, Aurora is one of the older riders and sets a very good example for the many younger riders taking the same route. She is always in a helmet and focused on her surroundings, which is essential for navigating two very busy intersections along her route, including Wolfe Grade. She also slows and stops when conditions require it, like on narrow and congested side streets.

Over 10,000 students from 59 elementary and middle schools benefited this year from 400 pedestrian bike safety classes taught by Marin Safe Routes to Schools. The purpose of these classes is to teach children how to navigate the streets safely while using an active mode of transportation.

This year, the program added ten new and returning schools to the education program.

The two main components of instruction are Pedestrian Safety for 2nd and 3rd Graders, and Bicycle Skills and Safety for 4th, 5th and 6th Graders.

During the pedestrian safety classes, students shoot their hands up to share what the benefits of walking and riding to school are. Most are well informed of how cars contribute to global warming, and they consistently mention that fewer cars on the road is better for the Earth. Mental and physical health and less traffic are other common answers they offer.

At first, the students are taught a theoretical class on how to cross the street safely. On a follow-up session, the second and third graders are taken out on a brief “field trip, ” where they can practice what was explained to them before. The outing is led by a teacher and at least one Safe Route to Schools staff member.

In the meantime, 4th-6th graders benefit from a “bike rodeo.” There, they learn how to ride a bike, keep their balance, decide what way to turn, scan their surroundings, remove a hand from the handle bar to signal, among many other skills.

For the bike rodeos, Safe Routes provides bikes and helmets to students who do not own one. Scooters are also available for those who prefer them or do not know how to ride a bike.

Classes are scheduled normally during the physical education time. The primary goal is for them to learn the rules of the road and ride safely. But more than anything else, Safe Routes want to help kids envision a world with fewer cars, and help them see the fun and joy that riding bikes can bring to their lives,” said Safe Routes Lead Instructor Tyler Randazzo.

If you want to schedule Safe Routes’ pedestrian and bike safety classes, contact Katy Vanoni, Safe Routes to Schools Education Coordinator, at [email protected]

Each year, the Transportation Authority of Marin honors one of its many crossing guards for outstanding service to their community.

This year’s honoree is Alice Yan who helps students safely cross the intersection of Throckmorton and Old Mill near the front of Old Mill School in Mill Valley. Starting in 2016, Alice has never missed a shift for the last six plus year. Alice came to the United State in 1991 and has been a Mill Valley resident since then.

Alice was honored at the TAM board meeting on May 25th. Both Supervisor Stephanie Moulton Peters and Mill Valley councilmember Urban Carmel had children who attended Old Mill School. Supervisor Moulton Peters presented the award, “Alice, on behalf of the TAM Board, our community, our teachers, staff and our school children I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your profound dedication to keeping our school kids safe!

“Thank you for your dedicated service to the Children of Marin. Your work as a Crossing Guard has made a difference to countless students and families in the community. We appreciate your commitment to safety, your caring manner and your welcoming smile!”