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The MaineDOT Walk & Bike to School newsletter. This image includes graphics of children walking and biking.
www.mainedot.gov | www.MaineSafeRoutes.org

Think Spring! Think Outdoors! Think Maine Walk & Bike to School Week!

May 5-9, 2008 is Maine Walk and Bike to School Week! We hope you will consider having a walk and bike to school day or days. Over 100 schools participate each May. For those of you who hold one each year, now is the time to sign up and start planning! To participate, communities organize walking school buses, bicycle trains, education about the benefits of walking for health and the environment, and all kind of other outdoor events. There are many ways to celebrate and get kids excited about walking and bicycling to and from school.

If you need assistance in planning your Walk & Bike to School Program, let us know and we will meet with you and your team.

You need promotional materials? We have them. We have Colorful Walk & Bike to School Promotion Posters, walking school bus posters, and information on how to get started.

Please let us know if you will be hosting an event. Also, let us know what you need for materials and they will be mailed out to you in time for your Walk & Bike to School Program Events.

For more information, Contact Denise at 692-7384 Saferoutes@BikeMaine.org.

 

Maine’s Third Walk and Bike to School Conference and Training

The Walk and Bike to School program has been busy this winter planning for the upcoming “The Built Environment and Physical Activity” Conference on May 7, 2008 at the, Eastland Park Hotel in Portland. The Maine Safe Routes to School Program is working in coordination with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program on this conference.

The benefits of creating vibrant, compact and walkable communities are enormous; they include health, social, economic, transportation, safety, and environmental benefits for all. This conference is intended for Planners, Health Professionals, Parents, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advocates, Town Officials, School Personnel, and all others interested in working on improving the community environment for walking and biking.

The goal of the conference will be to provide valuable knowledge and information regarding the processes, both planning and financial. How improving conditions in village areas, neighborhoods, and schools also improve the community environment.

The conference will include an Opening Seminar by Nationally Recognized Speaker Bob Chauncey, from the National Center for Walking and Biking. Sessions will include information on the importance and the processes involved to improve the community environment, including community comprehensive and transportation plans, local, state, and federal funding options, and walkability audits. Sessions will also include how to develop Safe Routes to School encouragement programs.

The afternoon will allow participants an opportunity for hands on training how to conduct a walkability audit including how to identify improvements and barriers to improvement in your neighborhood or community.

Please make sure you make the time to attend this conference! This is a must attend conference for those looking for knowledge on how to improve conditions at the neighborhood, school, and community level.

For more information or to register please contact Denise Delorie at SafeRoutes@BikeMaine.org or visit http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/panp/training.aspx

 

Health Corner

A family walking on the beach

Getting back on the bike health tips

Do you find your shoulders are sore after riding? Is your neck tired? Well, according to Ben E. Benjamin, founder and president of the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, most of today’s bikes are designed for maximum speed and the least amount of resistance. Unfortunately this puts the rider in a bent position that can lead to health problems. However there are many things an avid biker can do to prevent injuries.

  1. Find a bike that allows the body to remain in an upright position or buy specially shaped handlebars or handlebar extensions, which allow for several riding positions, including being more upright.

  2. Make sure you thoroughly warm up your arms, shoulders, neck and back before riding.

  3. Take frequent breaks so you can regain an upright position.

  4. As always stretch both before and after your bike ride to help prevent strained muscles.
 
reminder sticky note

Friendly Reminder

Walking and biking activities are fun, healthy and good for the environment.

 

Tips for Promoting Walking Year Round

Walking Meetings, Energize Body and Mind

Walking daily is considered one of the best activities for overall health and lends it to worksite wellness activities. Walking meetings (or fun discussions with your kids) are a great way to energize your workday while providing essential exercise for yourself. Walking meetings may be used for brainstorming, creative discussion, daily communication, and problem solving.

Checklist for Successful Walking Meetings
(according to the Center for Health Improvement, 2005)

  • Inform your meeting members that walking meetings are “big idea” meetings and not detail oriented meetings.

  • Keep the number of participants to 6 or less. More than 6 and some members will not be able to hear the discussion.

  • Ideal meetings are a minimum of 20 minutes long.

  • Send out the agenda ahead of time to inform your meeting team of the discussion topics to ensure everyone is prepared.

  • Make your office “walking” friendly by encouraging people to bring a pair of walking shoes to work. If they know you are going to host walking meetings then this will motivate workers to have a change of shoes on hand.

  • Choose a pedestrian friendly site. Be mindful of extreme weather, if outside conditions are not conducive for walking, then walk through your building, a nearby indoor mall or around your floor.

  • Walk at a comfortable pace where all members of the group can speak without being out of breath.

  • Purchase a pedometer to log the number of steps you take during your walking meeting. Encourage co-workers to also keep track of how many steps they take daily. You may even want to challenge other co-workers to see who can walk the most daily or weekly. A walking challenge might increase the number of walking meetings held due to increased interest by co-workers.

  • Group members should be encouraged to bring a bottle of water with them for the meeting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that all Americans accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity daily. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports notes that “significant health benefits can be obtained by including a moderate amount of physical activity, for example 30 minutes of brisk walking,” on a daily basis.

 

Walking and Bicycling...
Fun, Healthy, and Good for the Environment!

For more information contact:

Denise Delorie
Maine Walk and Bike to School Program Assistant
Bicycle Coalition of Maine
Tel: 692-7384
- or -
Dan Stewart
MaineDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager
Tel: 624-3252

In this Edition

>>Maine Walk & Bike to School Week

>>Maine’s Third Walk and Bike to School Conference and Training

>>Health Corner - Getting back on the bike health tips

>> Friendly Reminder

>> Tips for Promoting Walking Year Round