TRAVERSE CITY WEST JUNIOR HIGH- On April 24, 2007, community members conducted a school property assessment at Traverse City West Junior High as part of the National Safe Routes to School program. The property assessment was a way for parents and community members to examine what our children experience as they negotiate school grounds on a daily basis. Community members observed both the arrival and dismissal processes. Preliminary results from the property assessment show that:

• Motorists move too fast on school grounds and there is no posted speed limit on school grounds
• Motorists do not always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and in the drop-off/pick-up zone on school grounds
• Speed on Silver Lake Road is too fast because many motorists do not obey the reduced speed school zone as posted
• During arrival peak, 300 cars dropped off students within a 20 minute window... talk about congestion! The dynamics of the arrival and dismissal process differ. School arrival coincides with peak a.m. roadway travel and parent drop-off rates are also higher adding to an already crowded roadway. School dismissal does not coincide with peak p.m. roadway travel, so congestion seemed minimal.

Why bother?

WJH has recently begun a Safe Routes to School (SR2S) initiative. SR2S is a national movement to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to walk or bike to school. The benefits of SR2S are many. When routes are safe, students can get the regular exercise they need for good health by walking or biking to school. Studies have shown that physically active kids have improved mood and concentration and that physical fitness is related to better test scores on some standardized tests.

Earlier this year, a survey regarding the attitudes and behaviors toward walking and biking was conducted with both parents and students of WJH. The results of those show that:

• 542 students surveyed, mostly in 7th and 8^th grades
• Currently, students commute to school 60% by bus and 35% by car
• 59% of the students agreed that walking to school is fun and cool
• If routes to school were improved, 20% said they would walk and 40% said they might

Get involved!

Over the summer the SR2S team will be looking at ways to improve the environment before school starts. We plan to kick-off in the fall with Walk to School day on October 3, 2007 then we will later conduct a walking route assessment event. If you are interested or curious about any of the activities please contact Rod Lowes at 933-1938 or Missy Luyk at 941-4300.

TC WJH was selected as one of five schools to participate in a Safe Routes to School pilot project to develop and pilot best practices for middle school communities. The middle school pilot project will further develop Michigan's Safe Routes to School program, which is administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation with the assistance of the Michigan Fitness Foundation/Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.