g ross elementary school -design for change usa

Creating Bike Paths in Lancaster, PA

Design for Change

Kids on the Move

G Ross Elementary School

November, 2010

“One act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world.”

- Ann Radcliffe

Design For Change Contest USA

Simple Step Process

4

The Challenge

Challenge Accepted!

Fifth Graders at G Ross Elementary School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Why Bike Paths?

• Childhood obesity is a problem.– Fifth graders felt Michelle Obama’s initiative

needed support.– Students agreed kids need more exercise.

Step 1: Feel

Why Bike Paths?• While activity can take many forms, most city

kids love to bike ride – a great way to exercise!– The problem: No safe place to ride.

Step 1: Feel

Problem: • Busy streets allow no

room for kids to negotiate riding safely.

• Most kids ride in alleys and sidewalks.

Step 1: Feel

Why Bike Paths?• We feel there are not

enough places for kids to ride their bikes safely in Lancaster City.

Step 1: Feel

Step 2: Imagine

Question:

What would it be like for kids to be able to

ride their bicycles safely in the city of

Lancaster? Brainstorming our project ideas

Step 2: Imagine

Putting our ideas together was a lot of fun!!

Step 2: Imagine

• We met with city officials and leaders!

Step 2: Imagine

Students with Rick Gray,

Lancaster City Mayor

Students with James Street Improvement District

Program Director Ms. Nauman

We talked with Mayor Gray about:

• green space;• designating streets for bike

riding.

And, we suggested a schedule for bikes just like there is for street cleaning.

Step 2: Imagine

• Ms. Nauman showed us plans for an urban parkway that nearby Franklin and Marshall College is creating in our neighborhood.

• They hope to connect the existing three-mile-long Farmingdale Trail with the new Brickyard site to create a labyrinth of trails for hiking and biking.

Step 2: Imagine

• We discussed our goals:– To promote bike safety in our community.

– To support – and encourage others to support – creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.

– To show kids where they can ride for fun.

– To share with parents how important exercise is for kids and how much fun we have riding our bikes in the city.

Step 2: Imagine

We had ideas…

Step 2: Imagine

…and more ideas! (We had a lot of ideas!)…

Step 2: Imagine

…but what could we DO?• We decided:

• To write a letter and to start a petition to support creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.

• To sponsor a community event at our school to raise awareness of our cause, with help from the:

• Local police department• James Street Improvement District (JSID) bike patrol• Cycle Smart Kid’s Program• Gretna Bike Shop

Step 3: Do

• We wrote a letter to

Mr. Keith Orris, vice president at F&M, to show our support.

Step 3: Do

• We created a petition for Ross students to sign.

Step 3: Do

• We met with Mike, manager of the Gretna bike shop – one block from our school…

Step 3: Do

…he was excited to help us out!

Step 3: Do

• But, we needed to reach more people…

Step 3: Do

• Our principal, Mrs. Hopkins, agreed.

• So, we worked with the local Department of Transportation to plan an event...

Step 3: Do

…A Bike Rodeo!

• Who: Lancaster City Community

• What: A Bike Rodeo and Safety Program

• When: May 2011

• Where: G Ross Elementary School

Playground and Parking Lot

Step 3: Do

Step 4: Share

There’s no stopping us now!

Our plan is in place! We did it!

“What a cool idea!” – Officer Ted Makauskas

“We will be there to share Bike Safety.”

–Trooper Thomas, Our State Police Community Rep.

Step 4: Share

…And, we aren’t finished yet!

• By the time our event takes place we will have touched our community of:

55,129 people!

Challenge Conquered!

We really can change our world!

Thank you for the opportunity to share our story!