Colleen Synk, Author at Safe Routes to School

Intersection crossing at light with new ADA ramps, and high vis yellow school crossing sign. School build sign visible in the distance.

Case Study: Novi Navigates Community Concerns to Help Kids Navigate to School

Novi is a bustling city about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. It is home to a unique mix of cultures, exemplified by places like its Hindu temple and Japanese grocery store. While many Michigan cities have struggled with population declines according to theU.S. Census, Novi has grown consistently and is now home to more than [...]

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Transportation Bonanza 2023: Save the Date

Save the Date February 22, 2023 | Virtual Format Join professionals from the fields of planning, education, transportation, health, engineering, natural resource and environmental protection, architecture, and landscape architecture for a day of training and connection focusing on active transportation and Safe Routes to School. Transportation Bonanza 14 will be held virtually and will have an emphasis

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Student safety guard and adult safety in poncho in super hero poses

Back to School Safety

There’s so much to do to get students ready for returning to school. Be sure to make a plan that incorporates safe and fun ways to help students get to school using active transportation. This is also a great time for your students to begin new habits and routines. In addition to starting their day with physical activity, inspiring

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Blue Ford Flivver car seen in Kingsford Flivvers building

Kingsford Honors Past While Moving into the Future

The famous Ford Flivver was manufactured in Kingsford in the early 20th century – a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After Henry Ford established the automobile plant, the Flivver, which was the nickname for his Model T automobile, began serving as the unofficial school mascot. Today, two of Breitung Township Schools, Kingsford Middle School

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students with backpacks walking toward the entrance of a school with park parking along sidewalk towards building

DeWitt’s Interagency Relationships Build Capacity

Districtwide approaches to Safe Route to School (SRTS) projects are strongly encouraged because they provide consistent communication, education, and a supportive culture for walking and biking to school. This approach works to ensure that no matter the location a student finds themselves in while traveling to and from school, they have resources that support walking

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A picture of Mary Moomaw, SRTS previous director

Introducing our new SRTS Director Mary Moomaw

We welcomed Mary Moomaw to our team as director at the end of May. Mary was our contracts manager when she joined the Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) team in 2008. During her tenure at MFF, she also worked on MFF SNAP-Ed initiatives gaining experience in training, facilitation, resource development, and active transportation. Mary has a varied background coupling

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view of students, as part of a bike train, biking towards a school

Bike & Roll to School Wrap Up

On May 2, we celebrated National Bike Month with Bike & Roll to School Day (BR2SD). With the addition of “roll” in the event title, we acknowledged inclusion and equity by encouraging all students to safely walk, bike, or roll to school by recognizing the variety of active travel modes people use in their communities. Michigan was fifth

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A woman in a wide brimmed had is planting a tree with other recently planted trees in the background.

Community tree-planting grants

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting grant proposals until June 17 for community tree-planting projects. The 2022 DTE Energy Foundation partnership grant program is for projects that reduce the effects of climate change and bring natural beauty and the benefits of trees to community streets and public spaces in DTE Energy’s service area. The DTE Foundation, DNR, and nonprofit

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View of treelined sidewalk with two cyclists in the background and two student walkers in the foreground.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

In our opinion, it is no coincidence that Mental Health Awareness Month and Bike Month overlap in May. The regular, uniform movement of cycling has a relaxing effect on the brain, which decreases stress levels, reduces the risk of depression, and decreases symptoms linked to anxiety. The benefits of cycling and getting outside can be combined by biking to school, work,

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Adults and students participating in a walking audit. Group is facing away and approaching a crosswalk. The sky is full of clouds.

From Mini to Major Grant in Grosse Pointe

Over the last decade, the Michigan Safe Routes to School (SRTS) team has been encouraging communities to think of their programming, planning and infrastructure design needs with a holistic, district-wide approach. Instead of focusing on improving active transportation for students and families around one school, they have been encouraging stakeholders to consider all schools in

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Case Study: Novi Navigates Community Concerns to Help Kids Navigate to School

Author name: Colleen Synk