Safety and Education Committee Report

07-08-15

DDOT Safety and Education Update

On June 23, 2015, BAC Safety & Education Committee member, Ellen Jones, met with Jennifer
Hefferan, DDOTs bicycle safety education specialist. Jennifer shared the amazing news that the DC
Public School System (DCPS) will be introducing universal bicycle safety education for 2nd graders.
DCPS contacted DDOT to provide bikes that will be used in the school. The bicycle education
curriculum is being developed by DCPS and will be incorporated into their physical education classes.

In addition to this formal education on bicycling, DCPS is adding balance bikes to their inventories of
school playground equipment.

Jennifer confirmed that the bicycle education contract with WABA has been signed. It covers safe
routes to school, bicycle ambassadors and adult education (10 classes) and 3 learn to ride classes. The
largest segment of the contract budget is for bicycle ambassadors. It also includes the neighborhood
PACE car program that aims to raise motorists awareness of the importance of obeying speed limits.

WABA is teaching bicycle safety to third graders at DC charter schools. Jennifer is doing safe routes at
the same charter schools. Thirteen schools will receive this training in FY15-16. New this year is
training trainers on bicycle rodeos. WABA has 1-year contract with 2 one-year extensions

In addition to Jennifers education work at DDOT, another staff person, Karen Gay, runs a helmet
give-away program. Karen works in Injury Prevention at DDOT.

On the Department of Parks and Recreation front, Jennifer reported that bicycle repair kits are being
placed in Recreation Centers through the auspices of the Department of General Services. Katie Lupo
and Sterling Stone of Gearin' Up Bicycles, a local nonprofit, are working with DGS on this initiative.
Gerin Up Bicycles runs an earn-a-bike program located on Randolph Road, NE.

BAC Safety & Education Meeting June 30, 2015

The BAC Safety & Education Committee meeting on June 30th
took place at Bus Boys & Poets in Mt.
Vernon Triangle. Ellen Jones, David Alexander, Daniel Hoagland (WABA) were joined by Helaina
Roisman, GWU Hospitals Outreach Coordinator for Trauma Services and Injury Prevention.
Helaina informed the Committee that GWU and other DC hospitals are required to collect a good deal
of injury data associated with bicycle crashes. Nothing is really done with that data. It isnt analyzed or
shared. GWU is trying to change that and have engaged a graduate student to do the first analysis of
their data.
Committee members expressed amazement that this data exists. Currently, the only fatalities
associated with bicycle crashes are widely reported. Having reliable injury data would enable the city
to set benchmarks and evaluate progress over time on injury prevention. Additionally, GWU and other
hospitals have an obligation to do something to try to prevent the injuries that they treat. This
represents a golden opportunity to connect the public to the safety education programs that are
offered through DDOT and WABA. Ellen suggested a meeting with the staff of the DC Councils
Transportation and Environment Committee.

Daniel Hoagland reported on WABAs new bicycle camp program. This lead to a general discussion on
the importance of coordinating the bicycle safety and education programs to focus on communities.
DDOT and WABA are doing this through the Safe Routes to School Program and classroom training in
charter schools. The Safety and Education Committee should be encouraging the city to keep a
community/neighborhood focus in providing bicycle safety and education services across
departments such as DGS, DPR, DDOT and DCPS.