Transportation to and from the School

Transportation committee recommendations

In order of importance and ease of implementation:

  1. Redesign bus routes so that 95% of children ride for less than 40 minutes. (If this is already happening but parents don't believe it,
    then improve communication with parents so that more will be willing to put their children on the busses.)

  2. Dismiss bus riders from classrooms first, by 2-3 minutes. (Let walkers and drivers go later--it's safer for them to walk home or to cars after the driveway has been cleared of busses. Make getting students onto busses the absolute top priority between 2:42 and 2:50.)

  3. Give children coupons for riding busses and for good behavior on busses. (PTO is happy to help with this).

  4. Ask the town to provide a policeman during arrival and dismissal times; ensure that cars do not park in the bike lane along Reservoir and that cars stop at the stop sign. Also, provide a crossing guard so that kids whose younger siblings are being dropped off at DCCC can walk safely across Reservoir road.

  5. Use Bridgman Trust (or other funds) to bring a landscape architect to teach the kids about redesigning the parking lot to be more bike/ pedestrian/bus friendly, then pay for the reconstruction work.
    [This proposal for this has been approved by the School Board, and is in progress - Entrance Design Proposal - PDF, 4 Mb]

  6. Work with the town to create bike boulevards and safe walking routes on Rip Road, Route 10, and Reservoir Road.

Report on Busing to SAU Board - November 17, 2008

Report sent to Board members - posted on SAU web site (PDF - 2.9 Mb) - see pages 5 to 41

 

International Walk to School Day - Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The PTO assisted the Hanover Bike/Pedestrian Committee with the first International Bike and Walk to School Day. The purpose of the event was to increase awareness of walking and biking in Hanover and to decrease traffic, promote cleaner air, get some outdoor exercise, decrease the use of gasoline, and fight climate change.

At the Ray School, 147 students walked or biked to school, about 31% of the school population. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with our walking school buses!

 

Presentation to Hanover School Board - May 21, 2008

PowerPoint presentation (PDF format - 600K)

Video of cars leaving the Ray School (speed is real time - not "fast forwarded")

 

Parent Survey - April 2008

Overall survey results (PDF format)`

Survey Comments (PDF format)

 

Walk to School Day - April 22, 2008

Walking to school along Reservoir Road

Thanks to all the parent volunteers who helped with the walk-to-school day which was the kick off event for Earth Week at the Ray School from April 21 to 25, 2008.  More than 170 adults and students walked from the Dartmouth Green to school and over 50 parents and students walked along Rip Road. 

Resources

Initiatives at the Marion Cross School: Sept. 6, 2007 Walk to School Day

SAU #70 School Transportation Guide

School Traffic Study - March 2003 (1.9 MB PDF)

NH Safe Routes to School

Student research: how do car dropoffs impact our environment?

Parent comments from 2006

Seat belts on school buses

 

Last updated November 17, 2008