AMERICA WALKS: Call to Action!

We are one step closer to a federal transportation law that makes streets safer for all users.

Dear Walk Bike Berks,        

After several long weeks of intense work from advocates around the country, the Cardin-Cochran Amendment has been accepted as part of the base Senate transportation bill, MAP-21. If MAP-21 becomes law, the language from this amendment will ensure that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access much-needed funds to make walking and bicycling safe and accessible.

The list of who we need to thank for this important victory is long, but our most immediate "thank you" goes to the following US Senators - Please take a minute to click on their name and thank them:

• Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Cochran (R-MS) for championing this amendment and ensuring that local governments have a voice in transportation planning and projects; and
• The leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sens. Boxer (D-CA), Baucus (D-MT), Inhofe (R-OK), and Vitter (R-LA), for including this amendment.

What you can do to ensure continued support for walking and biking:

• Please e-mail or call the Senators listed above with a simple message, "thank you for including the Cardin-Cochran Amendment into MAP-21."
• Ask your state's US Senators to "support the Klobuchar/Burr/Shaheen/Risch Amendment (#1661)." This amendment supports the Recreational Trails Program that has built and maintained thousands of miles of trails across the United States.

PA Senators are:

• Toomey, Patrick J. - (R - PA)	Class III
  502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
  (202) 224-4254
  Web Form: www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact

  Casey, Robert P., Jr. - (D - PA)	Class I
  393 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
  (202) 224-6324
  Web Form: www.casey.senate.gov/contact/

America Walks thanks everyone who called and emailed in support of the Cardin-Cochran amendment. Your voices made this possible!

Sincerely,
Scott Bricker, Executive Director
America Walks

Walking for Health Skills and Safety

Safe Routes Berks presents:

A one-day professional development experience for K-8

Health and PE Educators

Safe Routes Berks is a new program that introduces walking and cycling as fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly activities for children ages 5-13.  This professional development training is comprised of a 6 hour tutorial on pedestrian skills and safety lessons – including getting on and off of a school bus safely. Berks County teachers, public or private, who complete the training receive full access to the online resources and print materials, including teacher’s guide, activity books for students, and educational videos.  Teachers will be given creative lessons and activities to fill existing curriculum -- as everything provided is aligned to state standards both for PE/health related lessons, and cross-curricular lessons.  In addition to walking for health skills and safety lessons, teachers will be provided materials for their students to learn to view their feet as good means of recreation, exercise and transportation.

Where and when: March 20, 2012 8 AM – 3:00 PM BCIU Education Centre 2101 Centre Avenue (Route 61) Reading, PA 19605

Why: Obtain 6 Act 48 hours Receive new PDE lessons for life-long fitness Augment your school’s wellness plan Substitute teacher costs reimbursed to your district No cost to participate

Don’t forget: Bring your walking shoes- - this is an active workshop!

Instructions for Registering on MyLearningPlan: ·         Go to www.berksiu.org ·         Click on the “Quick Links” drop down box toward the top of the main page. ·         Choose “MyLearningPlan” from the list. ·         Select Step 1: “Click here to view course catalog”. ·         Events are in order by dates. Scroll down to “date of event” or enter the title in the “Search Term” box. Then click “View Now” ·         Choose “title of event” session by clicking on the course title for course description and enrollment information. ·         Select “Click to Enroll” and then choose the link that applies to you. Example, “I’m a new user”. ·         Enter your information as instructed.

The Safe Routes Berks educational program is funded in part through a Transportation Enhancement grant from the Federal Highway Administration - U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Reading Area Transportation Study.

We are pleased to present the new look (and name) of our WBB monthly newsletter.
Click here for the February 2012 issue of Connections.

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NEW TEACHER TRAINING -- FREE ACT 48 Hours

NEW TEACHER TRAINING -- FREE ACT 48 Hours

• Augment Your School Wellness Plan
• Receive New PE Lessons For Life-Long Fitness and Activity

February 14 and February 15
8:00-3:00; lunch break provided
SAFE ROUTES BERKS
Berks County Intermediate Unit
BCIU Education Centre
2101 Centre Avenue (Route 61) | Reading, PA 19605
610-987-8300 (phone) 610-987-8400 (fax)
info@walkbikeberks.org

Bring your walking shoes -- this is an active workshop.
Substitute Teacher Costs provided to your district.

An extension of the PA Safe Routes to School education and encouragement program, Safe Routes Berks is a new program of Walk Bike Berks that introduces walking and cycling as fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly activities for children ages 5-13.
In addition to walking, bicycling, and school bus safety lessons, teachers will be provided materials for their students to learn to view the bicycle and their feet as good means of recreation, exercise and transportation. Encouraging students to bicycle and walk more addresses issues of active living, obesity and diabetes, and environmental health.

School District Employees – Safe Routes Berks’s train-the-teacher program educates elementary and middle school teachers and staff, providing in-service and professional development trainings at the Berks County Intermediate Unit.  These Professional Development trainings comprise of a 6 hour tutorial on pedestrian, bicycle and school bus safety lessons. Berks County teachers, public or private, who complete the training receive full access to the online resources and print materials, including teacher’s guide, activity books for students, educational videos, and 12 Act 48 credits. 

Register Today:
On-Line Registration Instructions:
To begin, please visit the website listed below and follow the step-by-step instructions that will display on the screen. Steps are also listed below for your reference.  We hope that you will find this online registration system user-friendly.
1.  Go to BCIU's Website www.berksiu.org
2.  On the left hand side of the screen under quick links, click on “My Learning Plan”
3.  Scroll down to Step One and click on the link"click here to view course catalog"
4.  Click "view now"
5.  Locate “Safe Routes Berks “Pilot”
6.  Click on the title of the training
7.  Click on "click to enroll"
8.  Following registration procedures that apply to you:
·        I’m a registered user – select this option if you have already created a personal account in My Learning Plan (MLP).
·        I’m a new user – select this option if you do not have an account.  By completing this you are establishing an account with a user-name and password in a secure location for future reference.  You can update or change any of this information as needed.
·        I’m a My LearningPlan.com user– select this option if you have an account with MyLearningPlan.com
For technical support on using the online registration system, please contact Heidi Gamler 610-987-8548.
Register by Wednesday, February 8.

The Safe Routes Berks educational program is funded in part through a Transportation Enhancement grant from the Federal Highway Administration - U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Reading Area Transportation Study.

Raise Your Hand For Safer Streets

Congress to Remove Safety from Transportation: ACT NOW!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Congress-To-Remove-Safety-From-Transportation.html?soid=1102617254371&aid=WskmwgggrrM

Last year, pedestrian fatalities rose while vehicle fatalities dropped. So why does the House want to cut the tiny slice of funding that helps improve safety for people on foot or on bike? And with 69,000 structurally deficient bridges, why aren’t they requiring states to fix their bridges before building new highways? Take just a minute and join me in telling your Representatives to support two key amendments in Thursday’s markup of the House transportation bill. We have just a few hours left to weigh in before they vote Thursday morning.


http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9408

Thanks so much for your help!

Walking advocates push for sidewalk near school

Andrew Yawger:
"The project will help the community and help move us toward a more walkable and safe township. This is a big win for Exeter Township!"
"More than just walking to school, there will also be a walking tour of historical sites in the area of, including the Exeter Station."

To read the full Reading Eagle Article, click here.

ACT NOW: Save Biking / Walking Funding!