Vermont Agency of Transportation Second Annual Safe Routes to School Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education Training

Participants will choose between two tracks based on curricula developed by the Center for Health and Learning under a grant from the Agency of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program. Both curricula are interactive and contain essential concepts and skills related to Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety.

Each participant is expected to choose a track in advance upon registering.

Track 1) Orientation to the WalkSmart / BikeSmart Vermont! Curriculum
CHL is working with SRTS educators and Physical Education teachers to develop a statewide cadre of local and regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Educators who will implement the WalkSmart / BikeSmart Vermont! curriculum. The curriculum is formatted to include one pedestrian safety lesson for grades K-2 in the fall and one bicycle safety lesson for grades 2-6 in the spring. Interested schools throughout Vermont in addition to those associated with the Safe Routes to School Program are welcome to participate and contribute to increasing the number of children who possess the skills to walk and bike safely, avoid injuries and death and learn healthy habits that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Track 2) Orientation to the Bike Smart Vermont On-Bike! Curriculum
This curriculum provides the basis for more focused instruction in on-bike safety, mock traffic situations and bicycle handling skills. It covers essential concepts and skills for instruction, lesson content and approach as well as equipment challenges/logistics, classroom management and setting up a bike safety fair in the school community. This is well suited for P.E. classes, after school or summer programs. Participants in this track should come prepared to train on the campus grounds with a bicycle, helmet and weather-appropriate clothing or rain gear.

Trainers: Alice Charkes, JoEllen Tarallo Falk and Becka Roolf

In addition to the curriculum and training, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Resources page on the CHL website provides links to other state and national resources for bicycle and pedestrian safety.