Washington Elementary Walking Audit Table of Contents

Overview of Program 1

Methodology 1

Community Participation 2

Overview of Washington Elementary 3

Washington Elementary 3

Bicycling in the Area 3

Washington Elementary Walking Audit 3

Walking Audit Route Map 3

Walking Audit Observations 3-4

Walking Audit Recommendations 4

Walking Audit Recommendations Map 4

Walking Audit Field Notes 5-10

Guidelines for Bicycle Parking at Schools 11-12 Overview of Program

Communities Putting Prevention to Work: Washington Elementary, Auburn School District

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a growing movement to encourage and support “active commuting” on the part of school children and families. At the intersection of public health, public safety, education, and transportation, SRTS helps communities create a balanced alternative to an automobile- centered culture.

In an effort to improve King County children’s physical health, academic performance, and personal safety, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Feet First are leading SRTS programs at eighteen schools in 2011. Through partnerships with King County school districts and other community organizations, these programs identify safe and unsafe areas for biking and walking, design safety improvements, educate students on safe walking and biking practices, and launch events to encourage children to walk and bike. These efforts span the “5 E’s” of SRTS: Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation.

The ultimate goal of this grant is to encourage more children to walk and bike to school, thereby helping combat childhood obesity. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the past thirty years, while the number of children walking and biking to school has declined. In 2009, less than 13 percent 1 Childhood obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. of U.S. students between the ages of five and fourteen walked or biked to school, compared to 48 percent in 1969. Three walking audits in Auburn will be used to identify and prioritize nonmotorized improvements. They have been timed to coincide with the school district transportation planning meeting scheduled for June of 2011. Additionally, the recommendations in these audits can be applied to SRTS programs at other schools in the district.

1. 2009 National Household Travel Survey, U.S. Department of Transportation

Methodology afternoons. This information was gathered from the district as well as from teachers and staff at the school. The second step of this program was to meet withThe first community step was stakeholders to gain an understanding including teachers, of where staff, students PTA members, live, where and they other are community coming from partners, in the morning,if available. and where they are going in the

Each school’s neighborhood was visited and “ground-truthed” (map data was compared with in-person observations). Notes and photographs were taken on pedestrian infrastructure-related assets and issues. Based on these observations, points of interest were chosen and maps were prepared for the community walking audits.

Dates were set for the community walking audits based on availability of the Auburn School District participants, community partners, and primary school contacts. The Washington Elementary audit took place on Wednesday May 12, 2011. The audit began at the end of the school day to observe the dismissal process, and lasted one and one-half hours. Audit participants were given maps, clipboards, and digital cameras. They recorded their observations directly onto the maps, and took photographs to go along with their written observations. Their comments and the cameras were collected

1 after the audit, and these records were integrated into the final report. Community Participation In order to gather participants for the community walking audits, Principal Pauline Thomas worked diligently with faculty and staff at Washington Elementary to gather parents, neighbors and school staff. John Vander Sluis of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and the Auburn School District director participation in this community- and coalition-building process. of transportation, Dennis Grad, worked to identify and contact city planners, engineers, transportation specialists, and police officials to solicit their Washington Elementary Community Walking Audit participants included: Pauline Thomas – Principal at Washington Elementary Kathy Schumaier – Washington Elementary Staff Shirlee Partridge – Washington Elementary Staff Amy Cresswell – Washington Elementary Staff

Ray Vefik - Auburn School District Board Member DennisOfficer RobinGrad - McCluskeyAuburn School - Auburn District School Transportation Police AprilOfficer Hurlbert Leslie Jordan – Auburn - Auburn School School District Police Transportation Mike Newman - Deputy Superintendent, Auburn School District

Chris Hankins – City of Auburn, Public Works BicycleKjerstin Alliance Lange – of City Washington, of Auburn, Safe Parks Routes and Recreation to School Program Manager – John Vander Sluis Feet First Active Communities Mapping Specialist – Gia Clark

OverviewApproximately of five School students, many of whom often walk home daily joined the walk. School Overview of the students are Caucasian, a quarter are Hispanic, and a quarter are Asian or African American. Seventy percent qualify for free or subsidized school lunches.Washington The Elementary school is located serves at 500 20 Epre-kindergarten St NE, Auburn, Washington. through fifth grade students from the City of Auburn. The school has a rich cultural diversity: half accustomed to seeing pedestrians, and local businesses could be called on to help incentivize parents to walk with their children to school. The school benefits from its location in downtown Auburn. Streets have largely been designed or redeveloped on a pedestrian scale, drivers are relatively Biking The area surround the school is largely supportive of student bikers. Beginner riders can use the sidewalk network to ride off-road, and more advanced riders can make use of the (generally) slower speed neighborhood streets. However, bike lanes are not present on many of the local streets. Additionally, sources for free helmets will be provided to the school. the youth bikers who were observed during the audit were not wearing helmets, and could benefit from efforts to promote helmet use. A number of 2 The school provides parking for bikes behind the main school building. However, this parking could be improved in many ways. For example, in order to securely lock a bike’s frame to the rack, it must be biked crossways across the rack – reducing the rack’s storage capacity. Additionally, improved parking would be located in a covered, preferably locked, area where school staff could naturally observe the rack – these measures would decrease the risk of

Ridershiptheft and increase may also the be lifehindered of the bikes.by families’ See the economic field notes constraints. and attached The guideschool to and bicycle district parking could for seek a brief out partnershipsoverview of bike to put parking more bikeslocation in kids’concerns. hands. Rotary and other community groups are often available to fund bike drives and to repair families’ damaged bikes. Programs such as in Southeast Seattle’s Bikeworks offer kids a chance to earn a bike through community service.

Washington Elementary Walking Audit Walking Audit Route:

F S

The walking route circled the several blocks T NE surrounding school. In particular the walk looked at the current walking boundary to the north of the school Y N A 7TH ST NE and examined the challenges currently preventing W th Street NE from walking to and E

N 7TH ST NE

from school. This route was chosen to examine the UBURN S

FULMER PARK A

H T NE 5TH S E studentsexisting challenges north of 4 for these students and propose VETERANS N 6TH ST NE

MEMORIAL T

S solutions that would increase the Washington PARK 5TH ST NE th Street NE. See the M 5TH ST NE route map on the following page. PARK AVE Elementary walking area north of 4 4 Walking Audit Top Observations: 5 7 10 11 4TH ST NE 6 9 Much of the area immediately around Washington 3 8 Elementary, and the nearby historic center of Auburn, 3RD ST NE 12 3RD ST NE is designed on a grid and built with wide sidewalks and 2

well marked cross walk locations, which supports safe E

E walking to and from school. T

S N

E T

T S

2ND ST NE

K L

Based on conversations with Denis Grad, the Auburn 1 J School District head of Transportation, the walking area 1ST ST NE

for Washington Elementary can be expanded to includeB 1ST ST NE E

T NE

Street T

NE if an appropriate safe crossing is designated in the I 13 E MAIN ST 18 17 15 14 schoolthe students walk route. that live on the north side of 4 20 19 16

S E

S S S

E S

E T

S S

T SE T T

th T SE T T

S S S

T S

STREET MALL L

S J K

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D 8 Street NE is a significant through road with fast moving traffic and very unsafe walking areas for 3 additional connections to Fulmner Park in order to enable them to walk to school. pedestrians. While outside of the purview of this particular walking audit area, students that live in on I Street NE or I Place NE would benefit from Walking Audit Top Recommendations

F S th F PL NE I PL NE

Street NE and H Street NE: T NE Positioning a crossing guard at this location will allow students that live on the north side th th Street NE and expand the walk boundary for Washington Elementary. This location is the suggested Y N th th 1.crossing Position location a crossing so as guard to funnel at 4 walkersA who live on 5 of 4 Street NE to cross safely to theW south side of 4 7TH ST NE Street NE and head down H Street NE to cross with students who live on the north side of 4

2. Auburn High School driveway exit: Clearly mark and delineate the driveway exitE from Auburn High School. Vertical markers such as candlestick StreetA S NE. (field noteT #9)NE UBURN T NW 7TH S A N

S T NE 5TH S FULMER PARK

H 6TH ST NE E

N reflectors can be Tused NE to line the edge between the sidewalk and the driveway area. Additionally, use paint to mark the ground plane so that both driver S 3. Pedestrian Crossing5TH ST NE on M StreetT NE (between S and pedestrian Bare aware of the driveway exit area. (field note #8) F Street NE and M Street NE): Work with city 5TH ST NE M Crosswalk engineers to adjust the width of the crossing area to PARK AVE Fog Line VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK Stop Bar Line T NE 1 accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. (field note A S Stop Sign 4TH ST NE 2 #19) Traﬃc Encouragement): The area around Washington Elementary4. E Main Street is well & F engineered Street NE (Education to support andsafe 3RD ST NE T NE School Zone walking to and 3RDfrom S school as well as in the nearby Flashing Beacon 3RD ST NE

E E historic downtown. Because there are so many

T appropriate crossings, there is little reason for E

studentsE and parents/guardians to use unsafe

2ND ST NE S N

crossing locations. EncourageE and educated students

E T

VE NE

and parent/guardiansT to use crosswalk locations

T NE

D S T ST NE 1ST ST NE F Street1S NE – not at E Main Street and E Street NE.

1ST ST NE UBURN A B at E Main Street & D Street NE or E Main Street and A

T NE

3 T (field note #20)

E MAIN ST

E G S H S

F S T

S E E

S B STREET PLAZA S S T

T SE

T SE T SE

T N T

T SE

T T SE T

S S

STREET MALL L

J K I

D S A S

0 1/8 1/4 1/2 Miles 4 Field Note Observation points correspond to thenumbers onroute map shown onpage 3. Walking Audit Field Notes 2E 1E Veterans 4 3E Field Observation Pt. Location Street Street Street NE NE NE Park &3rdStreet &2nd &4thStreet Street N NE NE E

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students. muchoftheyear beinginstalled NE. crosswalktoassist Field thepark.There Observations middle, Thecrosswalkpaint

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8 18 20 19 17 Field Observation Pt. NE E Main Street E Street Street Pedestrian Crossing Street) E Main Location NE and NE Street Street MStreet NE (between and NE (L EMain Street NE &IStreet FStreet on ) toE M

x xx x Community Asset Engineering Enforcement x x Education Encouragement Policy are Flashing A numberofstudents for wheelchairsand remarked Washington Street The sidewalkalong Street the crosswalkatFStreet students Main oncoming walkers Pedestrian refuge reluctant towalk Washington Street approaching Street.Thetendencyis is NE where and beaconis heavilytraveled towalkeitherthecrosswalkatD Street anyway. thatthewidth traffic. directspedestrianline Elementary. Elementary there aschool out OneoftheWashington island wellplaced is EMain Field strollers. oftheirway not liveon staffcontinue shortenscrossing Observations NE.However, ofthecrossing bystudents zone. asafecrossing Street tocrossEMain DStreet

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9 The following observation points focus specifically on Washington Elementary School Grounds. Walking Audit Field Notes - School Grounds 1 3 4 2 Field Observation Pt. Pick School School School Intersection E Street School NE Street Parking School ‐up/Drop NE Grounds Buspick‐up Grounds Grounds Grounds lot NE exitalong and ‐of 1stStreet f are E a

x x Community Asset x Engineering Enforcement Education x Encouragement x Policy and The school cross thestreet When drivers marked students has no school. the school left orrightHowever, School pick‐up thus Cars parkalong This car limits slow adult patrol

area. traffic. crosswalkin thatwalktothenorth down drivers' and hasdone supervision. provides turnout Thecarspickup thebus EStreet atthepatrol theturntime, sightlines. Field frontoftheschool agood theleftturnsight ofthepick‐up supervisedcrossing,but pick‐up Observations up Students tothepick‐up job crosswalk,

backing up on students oftheschool separatingschool thenorth are area instructed however, bus lines atthefrontof driveway they trafficin exit side are usethe canturn patrol ofthe poor to some bus the exit.

Recommendation crossing Continue signs entrance Work Work could congestion an option toprohibit with with still atEStreet and toencourage turnboth forcar citytrafficofficials the regulated. exit City ofAuburn parkingbetween traffic. .

NE directions and students This 1stStreet may tosee topaint in tousethepatrol ordertokeep bebestif thepick‐up if NE curband rightturnonly . bus driveway traffic install traffic

Image 10

Guidelines for Bicycle Parking at Schools Bicycleroviding good quality bicycle par parking must be: king for students and staff can encourage biking by decreasing the risk of conflict, theft, and damage. P    visible  accessible  secure  easy to use convenient Bicycle plentiful parking should be:

Theft covered, well lit, and in plain view without being in the way of pedestrians.

 is a serious concern for bicyclists. Nearly 1.5 million bikes are stolen in the U.S. each year. Safe and convenient parking is as critical to bicyclists as it is for mo torists. Racks should:  Be placed in areas with high pedestrian activity and “eyes‐on‐the‐street”  Be more visible to staff and students than passersby  Allow the frame and one wheel to be locked to the rack when both wheels are left on the bike Good bike rack designs.  Allow the frame and both wheels to be locked to the rack if the front wheel is removed Allow the use of either a cable or U‐shaped lock Be securely anchored.

In areas with high crime concernsLocation: , schools should consider placing racks in rooms or cages that can be locked during the school day.   Racks need to be sited and installed appropriately for them to be well used: Racks that are placed less than 2’‐3’ from a wall or less than 30” from another rack will end up sitting empty. Design Racks need to be clearly visibleStandards and accessible, within 50’ of the building’s main entrance or at several commonly used entrances.   : Racks should:  Support the bicycle frame, not just one wheel Resist cutting, rusting, bending and deformation Be usable by bikes with no kickstand and bikes with water bottle cages 11    Be usable by a wide variety of sizes and types of bicycle Be promoted with bike paand rking directional signs Have roofs or be located under awnings ‐ to provide riders with rain protection while locking their bikes to prolong the life of the bikes’ metal and rubber components– an important Costs issue for low‐income riders.

 : The cost to purchase and install bike rack varies, but is almost always cheaper and more “Wheel-bender” racks efficient than providing car parking:  (above) can damage wheels  A bike rack that parks two bikes costs $150 to $300. and don’t allow frames to be  A locker that holds two bikes costs between $1,000 and $4,000 to purchase and install. locked to the rack. The cost to provide two car parking spaces is $4,400 on a surface lot and $25,000 in a garage. CustomizedParking for 10‐12 bike Designs s can fit in the same space required for a single car.

: As long as they meet the guidelines discussed above, bicycle racks can serve a dual purpose by promoting a school’s name, mascot, or values (see below).

More Information   : To learn more about how to choose a rack that is good for your school, please consult these resources:  The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) http://www.apbp.org/?page=Publications. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/engineering/parking.cfm.  Madison, WI bike parking guidelines: http://www.cityofmadison.com/trafficEngineering/documents/MadisonBikeParking20100715.pdf John Vander Sluis, The Bicycle Alliance of Washington, [email protected]