Could it be that our advocacy is really bringing about change in the land of steady habits?  Seeing full bike racks at schools like this make us think so.  We're making strides in raising the profile of biking and walking in Connecticut. Cheers to the next generation of bike ped enthusiasts.

Connecticut State Senator Beth Bye, a bike to work regular, was interviewed by the Public News Service. 

Find out what Senator Bye had to say about Connecticut's Bike to Work Day here. 

National Bike to School Day is right around the corner—May 7, 2014. Schools, cities, bicycle groups, public health organizations and parents alike are organizing bike rides and bike trains to school to highlight and celebrate the benefits of choosing student-powered transportation to school.

There are 1,094 events scheduled throughout the U.S., including nine in Connecticut. Schools in Eastford, Simsbury, West Simsbury and Wethersfield are holding Bike to School Day events. 

There is still time to organize at Bike to School Day event at your school. Learn more here. 

The second Regional Safe Routes to School Workshop will take place on May 1, 2014 from 12:30-4p.m. at Cromwell High School, 1 Donald Harris Dr., Cromwell, CT. 

This workshop will dive into the goals of Safe Routes to School and provide the knowledge and tools you will need to implement a program at your school. 

Highlights of the workshop include: What is Safe Routes to School; Goals and History of Program; The Need for Safe Routes to School; Barriers to Walking/Biking to School; Health Impacts; Benefits of Walking/Biking to School; Discussion of the 5 E's and practical applications (Encouragement, Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation); A walk around the school to identify issues/solutions; Observation of school dismissal and discussion of key points to look for at your school; and How to start a Safe Routes to School Program at your school. 

RSVP by April 15 to Bridget Boucaud at 203-534-7862 or e-mail bboucaud@vnengineers.com. 

National Bike to School Day is May 7, 2014. The event takes place during National Bike Month. National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools throughout the U.S. to join together and build on the energy of National Bike Month. Last year more than 1,700 schools in the U.S. participated in the event. 

To find out if your school is participating or register your school to take part at www.WalkitBikeCT.org. 

A free Intro. to Bike Safety and Maintenance Class for Kids will take place on Monday, April 14, 2014 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Simsbury Public Library Program Room. The class is for kids ages 12-16, and will focus on the basics of bike safety. Kids will learn how to change a tire, chain, cable, take care of brakes, proper helmet fit and high visibility clothing. 

Pre-registration is required. Call the library at 860-658-7663 to register. 

Looking for a fun, free and very valuable activity for your 12-16 year old over April vacation. The Library is offering Intro. to Bike Safety and Maintenance for Kids!

In coordination with National Bike Month in May, Bike to School Day will take place on May 7, 2014. Get your school involved by holding a Bike to School Day event this year.

The first-ever National Bike to School Day took place in 2012. The event builds on the Walk to School Day that is celebrated in October each year. National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate and to build off of the energy of National Bike Month.

Learn more about planning a Bike to School Day event here. 

Register your Bike to School Day event here. 

New research from the National Center for Safe Routes to School—based on parent survey data collected by nearly 4,700 U.S. schools from 2007 to 2012—shows that more K-8 students are walking to and from school across the country. 

According to the data, the percentage of K-8 children who walked to school in the morning increased from 12.4 percent to 15.7 percent (representing a 27 percent increase). Similarly, the percentage of K-8 children who walked from school in the afternoon increased from 15.8 percent to 19.7 percent (representing a 24 percent increase).

Another significant finding of this research was that the percentage of parents who reported that their child’s school supporting walking and bicycling for the school commute rose from 24.9 percent to 33 percent.

Although walking increased among students who attended low-, medium- and high-income schools, walking increased especially among students who attended low-income schools (schools where at least 75 percent of students were eligible to receive free or reduced price meals).

There was a small but statistically significant decrease in bicycling to school between 2007 and 2012, from 2.6 percent to 2.2 percent in both the morning and afternoon. And using the bus decreased significantly between 2007 and 2012.  Within one mile of school, the largest shift between travel modes occurred between busing and walking, with busing decreasing significantly and walking increasing significantly. 

The full report, Trends in Walking and Bicycling to School from 2007 to 2012, analyzed parent survey data collected by nearly 4,700 schools located in all states and DC from 2007 through 2012. The surveys represent more than 525,000 K-8 school children across the country. 

Make sure to mark these dates on your calendar for 2014!