Does anyone know of a good resource for trip reduction strategies for primary and secondary schools that serve a geographically dispersed student body? Most research I've come across deals with large employers and the Safe Routes to School program focus on neighborhood schools. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.
-Tom
What types of trips do you want to reduce?Originally posted by tharne
All these years the people said he’s actin’ like a kid.
He did not know he could not fly, so he did.
- - Guy Clark, "The Cape"
My advice would be to look into carpooling programs at schools... it would do the most good to reduce the number of automobile trips.
This website may have some useful information for you:
http://www.itre.ncsu.edu/STG/
Part of the problem of course is the fact that these schools are serving a widely-distributed sparse population rather than being neighborhood schools... however that's not totally fair, since even neighbourhood schools aren't seeing the number of students walking to them that they used to.
I'd be interested to see other solutions to the problem besides carpooling.
We have a charter high school here located in the heart of downtown that has limited parking and therefore promotes carpooling and taking the bus. The student body is drawn from all over the city.
They are very proactive on transportation issues. At the beginning of the school year, they create a custom public transit schedule for each student showing how to get from their home to the school via the bus system.
They also have a staff person dedicated to arranging carpooling among families.
Last I heard, which was about 2 years ago, they had over 80% of the student body getting to school via public transit.
Here is a link to their page on parking and transportation. Not a lot of info on this page about this topic (other than a link to the transit authority and the carpooling person at the school), but if you are really interested, at least you know who to contact: http://www.abhs.k12.nm.us/building/parking.htm
This school has a great reputation, by the way, and is housed in a wonderful historic structure. The renovation project won a number of historic preservation awards when it was completed a few years back: http://www.achp.gov/news1122.html
The purpose of life is a life of purpose
Thank you to those who responded. The information is quite helpful.
-Tom
Quote