Kids on the Move-- G Ross Elementary School (Lancaster, PA) 5th Graders worked on 'Creating Bike Paths' to address Childhood obesity problem

1. Creating Bike Paths in
Lancaster, PA
Design for Change
Kids on the Move
G Ross Elementary School
November, 2010

2. “One act of real usefulness,
is worth all the abstract
sentiment in the world.”
- Ann Radcliffe
Design For Change Contest USA

3. Simple Step Process4
The Challenge

4. Challenge Accepted!
Fifth Graders at G Ross Elementary School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

5. Why Bike Paths?
• Childhood obesity is a problem.
– Fifth graders felt Michelle Obama’s initiative
needed support.
– Students agreed kids need more exercise.
Step 1: Feel

6. Why Bike Paths?
• While activity can take many forms, most city
kids love to bike ride – a great way to
exercise!
– The problem: No safe place to ride.
Step 1: Feel

7. Problem:
• Busy streets allow no
room for kids to
negotiate riding
safely.
• Most kids ride in
alleys and sidewalks.
Step 1: Feel

8. Why Bike Paths?
• We feel there are not
enough places for kids
to ride their bikes safely
in Lancaster City.
Step 1: Feel

9. Step 2: Imagine
Question:
What would it be like
for kids to be able to
ride their bicycles
safely in the city of
Lancaster?
Brainstorming our project ideas

10. Step 2: Imagine

11. Putting our ideas together was a lot of fun!!
Step 2: Imagine

12. • We met with city officials and leaders!
Step 2: Imagine
Students with
Rick Gray,
Lancaster City Mayor
Students with
James Street Improvement District
Program Director
Ms. Nauman

13. We talked with Mayor Gray
about:
• green space;
• designating streets for bike
riding.
And, we suggested a
schedule for bikes just like
there is for street cleaning.
Step 2: Imagine

14. • Ms. Nauman showed us
plans for an urban parkway
that nearby Franklin and
Marshall College is creating
in our neighborhood.
• They hope to connect the
existing three-mile-long
Farmingdale Trail with the
new Brickyard site to create
a labyrinth of trails for hiking
and biking.
Step 2: Imagine

15. • We discussed our goals:
– To promote bike safety in our community.
– To support – and encourage others to support –
creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
– To show kids where they can ride for fun.
– To share with parents how important exercise is
for kids and how much fun we have riding our
bikes in the city.
Step 2: Imagine

16. We had ideas…
Step 2: Imagine

17. …and more ideas! (We had a lot of ideas!)
…
Step 2: Imagine

18. …but what could we DO?
• We decided:
• To write a letter and to start a petition to support
creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
• To sponsor a community event at our school to raise
awareness of our cause, with help from the:
• Local police department
• James Street Improvement District (JSID) bike patrol
• Cycle Smart Kid’s Program
• Gretna Bike Shop
Step 3: Do

19. • We wrote a
letter to
Mr. Keith Orris,
vice president at
F&M, to show
our support.
Step 3: Do

20. • We created a petition for Ross students to
sign.
Step 3: Do

21. • We met with Mike, manager of the Gretna
bike shop – one block from our school…
Step 3: Do

22. …he was excited to help us out!
Step 3: Do

23. • But, we needed to reach more people…
Step 3: Do

24. • Our principal, Mrs. Hopkins, agreed.
• So, we worked with the local Department of
Transportation to plan an event...
Step 3: Do

25. …A Bike Rodeo!
• Who: Lancaster City Community
• What: A Bike Rodeo and Safety Program
• When: May 2011
• Where: G Ross Elementary School
Playground and Parking Lot
Step 3: Do

26. Step 4: Share
There’s no stopping us now!
Our plan is in place! We did it!
“What a cool idea!”
– Officer Ted Makauskas
“We will be there to share Bike Safety.”
–Trooper Thomas, Our State Police Community Rep.

27. Step 4: Share
…And, we aren’t finished yet!
• By the time our event takes place we will
have touched our community of:
55,129 people!

28. Challenge Conquered!
We really can change our world!

29. Thank you for the opportunity
to share our story!