Schools

Pacifica Schools Make Strides In Changing Travel Patterns

A recent survey shows that in one year the amount of students traveling to and from school in a single family vehicle decreased by 10 percent.

By Gwendolyn Holden

In October 2013 all Pacifica School District (PSD) schools participated in a districtwide count of of student’s travel habits to and from school. The results of this survey were recently tabulated in early December, revealing that students attending PSD schools have decreased the amount of students traveling to and from school in a single family vehicle by 10 percent.

The survey was conducted in PSD schools by asking students how they arrive to school and how they return from school. Options included driving in a single occupancy vehicle, walking, rolling (biking, skateboarding, scootering) taking public transit, and carpooling. The greatest gains were made in walking, increasing as much as 15 percent at some school sites.

This increase is attributed to the PSD Safe Routes to School program. The SRTS program is funded through a grant administered by the County Office of Education to encourage students to travel to school in an alternative method to a single-family vehicle.   

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Students are incentivized to participate in Lower Your Carbon Footprint Days, International Walk to School Day, and Golden Sneaker contests in which they can receive healthy snack treats and prizes for walking and biking carpooling to school.  

For more information contact Gwendolyn Holden gholden@pacificasd.org or Tina Van Raaphorst tvanraaphorst@pacificasd.org.

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