Bicycling and Public Health: PLACE grants and Safe Routes to School

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Bicycling and Public Health PLACE grants and
Safe Routes to School

• Matthew Ruscigno, RD, MPH
• Network for A Healthy California at
• LA Trade Technical College

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Many Uses of Bicycles

• Recreation
• Physical fitness
• Utility
• Socially
• Politically

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As Transportation?
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In NYC

• DOT's most recent counts show levels of cycling
  have doubled in the last 6 years
• Commuter cycling grew by 35 from 07-08
• Strong city support and the building of
  infrastructure

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Los Angeles Unique

• Space developed primarily for automobiles
• Easier to drive More likely to drive
• Low rates of bicycle commuting
• Poor infrastructure and city support
• LA DOT recently threatened to cut 100 of bike
  projects
• BUT
• There is currently a lot of momentum

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LA County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC)

• envisions a new Los Angeles that is a great place
  for everyday, year-round cycling a Los Angeles
  with healthier, more vibrant communities, where
  the air is cleaner, streets are safer and quieter
• www.la-bike.org

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Connecting Public Health and Bicycling

• Safer, quieter streets
• Less pollution
• Increase in local resources
• Humanization of mobility and social interactions

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PLACE Grant

• Policies for Livable, Active Communities and
  Environments
• PLACE funds proposals that initiate policy
  changes and physical projects to enhance the
  built environment and increase physical activity
  among community residents
• Requires non-profit organizations to partner with
  a city

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PLACE Recipients

• Pacoima Beautiful LA City Planning Dept
• Culver city LACBC
• El Monte multiple partners
• Long Beach BikeStation
• LACBC City of Glendale

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In Glendale

• Colin Bogart, LA County Bicycle Coalition
• 818.334.9731, colin_at_la-bike.org,www.la-bike.org
  /glendale
• Create a Safe and Healthy Streets Plan, a policy
  document designed to implement existing policies
  from current City planning documents
• More educating and connecting, than built
  projects

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Glendale PACE Activities

• Glendale history 12-mile ride

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PLACE cont

• The LA Dept of Public Health does not anticipate
  funding additional initiatives at this time
• Mailing list to receive information about other
  funding opportunities or built environment
  workshops place_at_ph.lacounty.gov

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Safe Routes to Schools

• Two funding sources
• State (SR2S)- Applicants are cities and counties,
  funds infrastructure, 10 match required, K-12
  target, must be in school vicinity
• Federal (SRTS)- Non-profits, PH Depts, school
  districts with city or county, funds
  infrastructure and other, no match, K-8, must be
  w/in 2 miles of schools

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How To Get Started

• Identify community stakeholders and form a
  multidisciplinary team
• Inventory and identify safety needs/hazards
  around schools get info and seek out resources
  and propose alternatives that would correct those
  needs/hazards
• Prioritize alternatives and adopt the one that
  proposes short and long-term safety solutions in
  the form of projects
• Develop a plan
• Submit an application to secure funding for
  project within that plan

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CAs SR2S Program

• Joyce Parks, the SR2S Coordinator, Caltrans
• 916.653.6920, joyce_parks_at_dot.ca.gov
• dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoutes/saferoutes.
  htm
• Dorothy Le, Planning Policy Director, LACBC
• dorothy_at_la-bike.org, 213.629.2142
• Safe Bicycle Routes for LA schools
• http//sr2s-la.blogspot.com
• www.saferoutesinfo.org

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Safe Routes to Schools

• Safe Routes to Schools national conference
• Portland, Oregon August 19-21st
• www.saferoutesconference.org/

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Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange

• www.cicle.org
• Safe urban riding courses
• Workshops for kids
• Social rides ice cream tours, bike-in movies,
  park tours

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CICLEs Recommendations

• 40 of our trips are under 2 miles. These trips
  present a great opportunity to get on the bike
• Make your first few city bike trips pleasant and
  enjoyable
• Keep it easy. Pick a regular destination that
  falls within one mile from your house. Start
  biking instead of driving. Ride to meet friends
  for a cup of coffee or a trip to the movies
• Make it safe. Learn good urban street riding
  and bike handling skills

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Additional Resources

• Complete the Streets
• www.completestreets.org
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
• www.pedbikeinfo.org
• League of American Bicyclists
• www.bikeleague.org
• Street Films
• www.streetfilms.org