FAST - Facilitate Active School Travel

FAST works towards active school travel with a focus  to FACILITATE.

Unlike programs based on print and web- resources, FAST’s success stemmed from student engagement: a consolidated effort to support the recruitment, training and coaching of small student leader committees.

A 10-week pilot project beginning in April 2010 aimed for a 20% reduction in traffic congestion at 1 middle and 3 elementary schools. A half-dozen student leaders in each school worked to adapt the acutal program materials that led to an average of 37% fewer vehcile-trips across the four schools.

Bramblewood student leaders & principal

Baseline and follow-up data were recorded through classroom surveys and morning vehicle counts. Results at the four schools showed 20%, 31%, 45%, and 52% fewer car-trips to school.

These results compare tallies between baseline data and a random day after each school’s Event Day.

Note: The attention and energy generated around an Event Day can generate much higher numbers of families walking to school. By measuring on a random day, the schools were better able to assess the effect of the student leaders’ work.

The graph on the left shows results from Bramblewood Elementary School - where, on their Event Day, 78% fewer students arrived in a vehicle! The following week, without school-wide promotions, incentives or reminders, surveys showed that 52% of those who had typically been coming by car, were walking to school.

Another survey conducted in September showed that the reductions were continuing even without the facilitation of the student leaders. The September results show 48% fewer students coming onto school property by car.

Our successes stemmed from a collaborative approach to engage student leaders from as young as Gr. 4. Activities and walking promotion centered on a social marketing approach that asked families to choose at least one day each week when they would NOT bring their car to school.

On this No-Car Day, families were encouraged to walk the entire journey to and from school, or if need be, drive to a nearby Park'n'Walk location and cover the remaining two or three blocks to school on foot.