Bike Week / Bike to Work Day 2011

[Melalvai]

Tri Girl, the adults are the hardest to change. The kids, especially 8-10 yr olds, are the "low hanging fruit". I found this concept very frustrating because it excludes everyone else. But I also saw it work. And on a personal level it worked too--if you have some easy successes it strengthens you to go after the more difficult ones. So I'd advise either dropping the attempt to get other teachers moving for now, or go ahead with it but expect it to be a complete flop--and don't let that prevent you from trying it again and again and again.

As far as the other, be persistent. Someone told me a story about one school in Columbia, MO that was particularly resistant to a Walking School Bus even after it had taken off like wildfire in the other schools. They kept asking for over 5 years and finally the principal said yes. What changed her mind is that the coordinator met with the principal personally and was able to address all her concerns. Her major concern was one particular intersection and one particular very busy street. They came up with routes that avoid those spots and she gave permission.

I can tell that you've had direct conversations with her, but it still probably comes down to communication somehow or other. There may be some concern she has that for some reason she is just not articulating and you have to puzzle out what the real problem is. Or she needs time (months or even years) to get used to the idea. Or evidence that it has worked in other schools. Don't give up!

I have a selfish reason that I really want you to keep trying. I've been feeling very annoyed lately with some people who claim that "People around here just aren't interested in biking or walking" because they made one or two attempts and they didn't work out. Now if they said "I've tried every year for 20 years, and here's all the things I tried, and here's the data on each year", then I might be convinced that people really don't want to participate in that particular activity. But I won't be convince that people here are so much different than people elsewhere. Anyway, so I want your (eventual) success story to throw back in their faces--er, I mean, I want to use your success story to tactfully and respectfully win them over to trying again!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks, Mel! I, too, want success-and to get kids to walk to school or ride regularly. If I didn't have to be at school 30 min. before the kids I would start and lead the walking school bus myself. I won't give up (thanks to your encouragement). I will research other schools in our district (or nearby) that have had success with walking school buses. I will do that over the summer. I *SO* want the kids to get involved (because when they get hooked on something they bug their parents to death until they give in and then a revolution happens).

Thanks for the encouragement!!!

[shootingstar]

Tri Girl, the adults are the hardest to change. The kids, especially 8-10 yr olds, are the "low hanging fruit". I found this concept very frustrating because it excludes everyone else. But I also saw it work. And on a personal level it worked too--if you have some easy successes it strengthens you to go after the more difficult ones. So I'd advise either dropping the attempt to get other teachers moving for now, or go ahead with it but expect it to be a complete flop--and don't let that prevent you from trying it again and again and again..................................................................................................

I have a selfish reason that I really want you to keep trying. I've been feeling very annoyed lately with some people who claim that "People around here just aren't interested in biking or walking" because they made one or two attempts and they didn't work out. Now if they said "I've tried every year for 20 years, and here's all the things I tried, and here's the data on each year", then I might be convinced that people really don't want to participate in that particular activity. But I won't be convince that people here are so much different than people elsewhere. Anyway, so I want your (eventual) success story to throw back in their faces--er, I mean, I want to use your success story to tactfully and respectfully win them over to trying again!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes one can't help but think that for some people they need a friend or another person to walk along, to divert the initial "difficulty" of walking to school or using alternate transportation.

But of course, that's not always possible.