Where to begin? It depends on where you're coming from. Reducing a school's tranportation emission footprint is a big job, and the HASTE website has a lot going on. Here are some ideas about how different parts of the school community can take action on school transportation emissions or support the work of teachers and students.
Teachers can: Student and Environmental Clubs can: Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) can: School-based
District-based
Provide a forum of support for less driving to and from school initiatives in the school district, and provincially. Email/website communication to all PACs for initiatives. Deliver traffic safety resolutions for BCCPAC. Families can: Choose to make the best interests of all children their first priority. Be a role model for fitness and environmental health. Be a role model for safe walking and cycling skills and awareness. Complete pledges to walk at least part way to and from school, even if they live at a distance. Commit to driving safely in the school zone to reduce risks to those walking and cycling. Become idle-free. Volunteer to help with campaigns and celebration days. Volunteer to help with bike safety education at school. Delivery Partners can: Define how a travel-to-and-from-school initiative that measures emissions connects with your existing program. Explore the HASTE site to identify tools and resources that would help the most. Join in and connect with other groups to find out how they deliver their programs. Participate in webinar training. Administrators can: Provide time and space in school planning for assembly presentations. Distribute traffic safety information and encourage teachers to cover this subject. Provide budget support for emissions reduction programs and services. Provide support and encouragement for school site traffic safety/crossing patrollers programs and initiatives. Establish school newsletter/website space for campaigns and features. Take an active part in walk/bike to school days. Establish positive relationships with parents and police working on traffic reduction and traffic safety initiatives. Identify and report to the district about school involvement and value of initiatives. School Districts can: Provide principals with mechanism to communicate about respective campaigns or point them to the HASTE connect tools. Include key dates and initiative highlights in district communications and reports. Provide meeting space. Include delivery partners in District ProD days. Establish participation of district administrator and/or school trustee on municipal Traffic and Safety committee. Facilitate participation in campaign days by school trustees and district personnel. Endorse environmental, safety and health campaigns. Integrate principles of safe and environmentally aware school district vehicle use for transport and delivery. Install idle-free signage on school grounds. Ensure school ground design and planning that safely separates cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles. Ensure adequate bicycle racks in secure locations. Police can: Provide bicycle and pedestrian safety education opportunities at schools. Participate in campaign event days and celebrations. Municipalities can: Include relevant stakeholders (school district and parents) on traffic and safety and environment/climate change council committee. Establish pedestrian and bicycle traffic needs assessment in and around schools. Work with parents and school administrators to provide safe route to school assessment and mapping . Assess needs for school zone signage and road marking at regular intervals. Coordinate endorsement of school program to reduce driving to and from school. Support enforcement of traffic by-laws.
