Light Up the Dark!
Use Lights and Reflective Gear to Be Seen While Walking and Cycling
screen shot from "Bike Lights & Reflective Jackets - Do They Work?"
Can you see the biker in black in the photo above? Neither can we!
screen shot from "Bike Lights & Reflective Jackets - Do They Work?"
He starts to become visible at about 65 feet away.
Now that the days are getting shorter, chances are you are walking and/or cycling in the dark or in very low light conditions. In fact, the home commute the Monday after daylight savings ends is the most lethal day/time of the year for pedestrians, and likely for cyclists too.
Make sure others using active transportation on paths (such as the Greenbelt in Boise, the Latah Trail around Moscow, the Sandcreek Byway in Sandpoint and the Portneuf Greenway in Pocatello) and cars on streets can see you.
Check out this great video demonstrating how lights and reflective gear show up in different lighting conditions. The video is geared towards bicycling but walkers can pick up some pointers too!
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Eight Schools in Moscow Participate in International
Walk to School Day
Guest Post by Erin Bacon, Moscow
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Eight Moscow schools participated in International Walk to School Day on the 5th of October. Approximately 1,000 Moscow students celebrated by walking or biking to school. Schools joining in the festivities included: A. B. McDonald Elementary, J. Russell Elementary, Lena Whitmore Elementary, Moscow Charter School, Moscow Middle School, Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning, St. Mary's Catholic School, and West Park Elementary.
Students at S. Mary's Catholic School
A highlight of this year's Walk to School Day was the completion of the new parking lot, sidewalks, and crossing features at the Moscow Middle School. Students now enjoy a safer route to school. The middle school students had the opportunity to sign a banner thanking the Idaho Transportation Department for their support. The elementary school children received a multi-country flag pencil and a sticker saying, "I walked to school today!"
 
Students were encouraged to walk with parents and in groups. Several of our schools hosted Walking School Buses coordinated and led by parent volunteers. Park-and-Walk locations were assigned near each school for children who wanted to walk but may live too far away. For children who were bused to school, we had University of Idaho athlete volunteers on hand to lead them in physical activities such as games and foot races, thus making our event inclusive to all children.
Safe Routes to School events like International Walk to School Day raise awareness for the need for safer walking and biking routes and the importance of walking or biking to school to support physical activity and protect the environment. These events also build connections between families, schools and the broader community.
The Moscow Safe Routes to School program is based in the Movement Sciences Department at the University of Idaho. For additional information, please contact Erin Bacon by phone at 509-432-4787 or via email at ebacon@uidaho.edu.
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What do U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter AND Captain Crosswalk Have in Common?
They Joined Idaho Walk Bike Alliance to Celebrate Walk to School Day Events!
On October 5, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance joined with U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter, Captain Crosswalk, students, parents, teachers and staff from Longfellow and Garfield Elementary Schools and Hillside Junior High School, and other schools throughout Idaho and from around the world to celebrate Walk to School Day. View our Facebook album.
Congressman Simpson and Governor Otter at Longfellow Elementary School
International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. This year there were 38 Walk to School Day events registered in Idaho. Participating communities included Ammon, Boise, Bonners Ferry, Eagle, Idaho Falls, Iona, Kuna, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello and Twin Falls. The Pocatello and Twin Falls events were covered in this KPVI story!
The National Center for Safe Routes to School assists states and communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bicycle to school. It also coordinates online registration efforts and provides technical support and resources for U.S. Walk to School Day and facilitates worldwide promotion and participation.
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Why Idaho Should Fund
Safe Routes to School
By Executive Director Cynthia Gibson
Recently, the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and the American Heart Association joined forces to lead a campaign to secure state funding for Safe Routes to School programs. Called Healthy Kids, this statewide coalition will educate communities, local decision makers and state-level decision makers on the benefits of active mobility for children.
"We have yet to meet town leaders who don’t want their community, no matter how large or small, urban or rural, to be safer for people to walk and bike."
Idaho currently receives approximately $3.5 million in federal funding per year to be used for biking, walking and Safe Routes to School projects. Unfortunately, this amount is completely inadequate. For example, the last grant cycle was for two years of federal funding ($7 million), and over $20 million of projects funds was requested. This is the same pattern we have seen every year since Transportation Alternatives Program’s (TAP) inception in 2013. We have yet to meet town leaders who don’t want their community, no matter how large or small, urban or rural, to be safer for people to walk and bike.
Safe Routes to School programs focus on improving infrastructure, law enforcement, education and encouragement activities to improve the safety and health of children so they can walk or bicycle to and from school. The benefits are advantageous for children and communities alike. Children arrive at school energized and ready to learn. They get a portion of their required 60 minutes of daily physical activity. And, the roads are safer because motorists drive slower and are more aware of people on the street. We hope our state leaders understand the value of this important program and will support our efforts to dedicate state dollars to the safety and health of Idaho’s youth. We will have more to announce on this initiative in the coming months. Stay tuned!
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Boise Residents Gain Improved Connectivity
Greenbelt Completed within City Limits and ValleyRide Opens Main Street Station
ValleyRide's Main Street Station
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Streets are for People Too!
We Unpaved Parking Spots and Put Up a Paradise for People on PARK(ing) Day
Since streets are for people too, we hoped to call attention to the way our streets are improved when we share them and highlight the need for more urban open spaces.
Left to right: Jim Byrne (IWBA volunteer / donor), Erin Bennett (American Heart Association), David Wali (Executive V.P. at Gardner Company), Patrick Riceci (IWBA Board President) and Jason Cudahy (IWBA volunteer / donor)
We chose 8th Street for our “PARK” because it is such a fantastic example of how access for cyclists and pedestrians helps create a healthy, vibrant community. This access even boosts communities’ bottom lines because non-motorized transportation facilities provide tangible economic benefits. It’s just good for business.
Patrick Riceci (IWBA Board President) and Jeff Kuhns with Becky Mills (IWBA volunteer / donor)
Ron Riley (IWBA volunteer / donor) with Cynthia Gibson (IWBA Executive Director) and Christine Bedard (Uber, an IWBA business supporter)
PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks.
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Where in the State is
Idaho Walk Bike Alliance?
Idaho Walk Bike Alliance has been busy working for better walking and bicycling statewide. Here are some of the places we've visited and events we've held in the past month.
Walk to School Day event (Longfellow Elementary, Boise) and the Snake River Valley Wine Region by bicycle (Canyon County)
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ITD Adds $1.4 Million for Bike/Ped Projects
Transportation Alternatives Program will Fund Improvements that Address Safety
In early September, the Idaho Transportation Board "approved a plan to use surplus federal funds on projects that will make Idaho's highways safer." Of the additional $21.7 million, $1.4 million will be allocated to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which funds bicycle and pedestrian projects.
As far as we know, this is an unprecedented move and represents a significant win for active transportation in Idaho.
Visit our website for some information from an Idaho Transportation Department news release that outlines the deadline, the types of projects to be considered, and some application requirements.
Contact us if you have any questions!
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Two Free Technical Assistance Programs Available for Your Community!
Application Deadlines are December 9
Do you want to make your community more prosperous and livable? Then take advantage of these two free technical assistance programs offered by Community Builders for communities in Idaho. The New Mobility West initiative helps address issues related to transportation and the Community Builders assistance addresses those related to community planning and economic development. Applications for both programs can be found here. Cascade used the assistance to develop an action plan for safer biking and walking. Learn more about what they did in this case study and video. We are happy to answer your questions!
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Become a Walk Friendly Community
Application Opens November 1;
Deadline is December 15
Join Sandpoint (Silver Level) and Coeur d'Alene (Honorable Mention) in becoming a Walk Friendly Community. Wouldn't it be great if there were more Idaho communities on the list?
The fall round opens November 1 and closes on December 15. There is no fee to apply but it takes approximately 20-60 hours for communities to complete an application. Find FAQs here.
Beyond the pride communities feel when receiving this designation, it helps them build alliances to make their towns and cities more walkable. Because the process compels the Mayor to talk to the Planning Department to talk to the Public Works Department to talk to local advocates, and so on and so on.
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National Walking Summit Call for Proposals
Application Deadline is December 15
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Idaho Walk Bike Alliance Staff Step Up for the
Idaho STEP Challenge
To encourage others to be active and healthy, Congressman Mike Simpson is attempting to walk over 2,900 miles; the 'journey' began June 1. This is the equivalent of walking from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. to the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise.
Idaho Walk Bike Alliance staff have joined the #HikewithMike and are walking at noon on Thursdays. Meet us at the center of Capitol Park for a stroll around downtown. Follow Rep. Simpson's progress, sign up for updates and STEP UP to join the challenge too. If you are hosting #HikewithMike walks in your communities let us know so we can encourage others to join you!
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