Safe Routes to School (SRTS) had another successful year in Gilroy. The Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (#GilroyBPAC) along with Santa Clara County Public Health (SCCPHD) had its first successful year after the formation of the Safe Routes to School Task Force. The task force will guide and sustain the program for the long term. The funding agreement and submission template for VTA (who oversees Measure B funds) is fully executed. In order to receive reimbursements for E&E activities, the City Council will approve work plans created by Staff and the Gilroy BPAC during their Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Mid-Year Budget as an amendment. Fiscal years 18/19/20/21 have been approved by the VTA Board and are available for Gilroy. We are getting $35,648/year and that gives us $142,592 available today to spend on education & encouragement. It’s important to get this program into the mid-year budget cycle, because it’s a use it or lose it program. You need to provide written explanation to carry over funds over three years from a fiscal year. We are currently in FY 20. This started FY 18. June 30, 2020 will be end of three year for FY 18. I know that we can do a great job sustaining the momentum we have from our efforts and the public health safe routes to school grant ending, while utilizing the savings we have built up from past fiscal years in Measure B.
SRTS has huge economic benefits that spill over into the City when we stay local and play local. When you engage the youth to walk and ride to school they become more comfortable with their streets, neighbors, and surroundings. Suddenly walking and riding to Downtown, Hillside Adventure Park at Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Library, House of Bagels, The Patio, and the Garlic City BMX’s Dirt Pump Track seem a lot quicker and easier than driving in your car. Shifty Cycles will continue to offer free bike valet for Downtown’s Thursday Night Live.
The Specialized Foundation Outride program began last year at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School (ASMS). This P.E. program was such a success that GUSD Superintendent Dr. Flores encouraged all the middle schools to apply for the grant. South Valley and Brownell Middle School were both awarded the grant too.
“Outride’s primary activities focus on three key areas: Primary scientific research, school-based cycling programs, and the creation of cycling communities. The aim is to increase accessibility to cycling through both fun and sustainable school cycling programs. And through these programs—along with the research—we're advancing the understanding of how riding bikes can help improve the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of children, with a particular focus on those with learning differences like ADHD. Finally, through the Outride Fund, we are supporting opportunities for kids to continue to benefit from cycling by funding trail, race, and education projects”
Program’s like this start to take their own spin in the schools. ASMS held its first bike schoolwide assembly in May 2019 during Bike Month! Specialized Bicycle in Morgan Hill attended and featured a pro rider who spoke to the group about his journey. Our GilroyBPAC spoke about bike/ped projects in Gilroy, and we got to hear about the newly formed South County Composite High School Mountain Bike Team. You can find more information about the team on our section of the City’s website. Before the assembly we were able to take two separate rides with the students off campus and through Christmas Hill Park on the paved and dirt trails.
Garlic City BMX is continuing to meet with the City regarding site evaluation for the construction of a dirt pump track at Christmas Hill Park, and they held their first fundraiser at Hecker Pass Winery. The Gilroy BPAC PASSED the following motion at their regular meeting on September 24, 2019. Gilroy BPAC “Recommend the City of Gilroy or Gilroy Gardens enter into an Agreement to Lease with Select Contracts for the Adventure Park Proposal” To date we have received over 200 emailed public comments to both the City Council and Bicycle Pedestrian Commission. We currently have letters of support from Santa Clara County Parks, Garlic City BMX, Bike Therapy, and South County Composite Mountain Bike Team. More will follow. Bay Area Ridge Trail, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers, and Trailhead Cyclery have all spoken in public comment about their support. 15 people spoke in public comment in support of the project at our meeting.
The Adventure Park in Gilroy will be a positive project in the region for people that bike, hike, and enjoy the outdoors. It will provide a benefit to our local community and attract tourism to the city. The park would be an amazing resource for local high school mountain bike teams, mountain bike enthusiasts, new riders, hikers, and those who enjoy emerging trends in recreation. There is not another project like this in the region. Gilroy is a Bicycle Friendly Community and the Adventure Park supports the 2018 Tourism in the Hecker Pass Corridor Resolution. Having places like this that are open to public year-round in our parks support our efforts for biking to school and playing local.
SRTS summary reports for residential developments and bike/ped infrastructure reports are in the packets for Planning Commission and City Council now. This is information for them to see what the strengths and weaknesses are for current infrastructure around proposed developments. Look around the City for the new Bicycle Friendly Community signs being installed this month.
We encourage you to nominate kids/adults for our monthly award within Gilroy that strives to make Gilroy a better place in regards to biking and pedestrian activities. Nomination form is on our website. Come to one of our meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month 6pm at the City Council Chambers, or email any of us. http://www.cityofgilroy.org/280/Bicycle-Pedestrian-Commission
The youth in our community will shape the future, but it’s up to us to show them the way. If you are looking for ways to get involved in SRTS then look to the schools that need parent volunteers or contact us. #GilroyBPAC
