Salem-Keizer launches cyclist safety campaign, cuts idling by 60%
Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Public Schools staff members collaborated with a local cyclist, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Bike Racing Association on a bicycle-bus safety awareness poster to educate bus drivers. Meanwhile, the fleet, safety and facilities team was able to cut idling by nearly two-thirds last year, and the transportation team reduced accidents by 59%.
This bicycle-bus safety awareness poster and others like it can be ordered from Salem-Keizer Public Schools' auxiliary services department. Go to auxiliary.salkeiz.k12.or.us/repro.html.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools realized a number of accomplishments over the past year.
Michael Shields, the Salem, Oregon, district’s director of transportation and auxiliary services, turned an unfortunate experience into a positive outcome after a bicyclist complained about one of the district’s buses and a near miss. Shields’ team invited the cyclist to participate in educating the district’s drivers through a campaign, and his team created a bicycle-bus safety awareness poster in collaboration with Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Bike Racing Association. (The poster, and others like it, can be ordered from Salem-Keizer Public Schools' auxiliary services department. Go to http://auxiliary.salkeiz.k12.or.us/repro.html)
Meanwhile, the fleet, safety and facilities team reduced excessive idling by 60%, and the transportation team reduced accidents by 59%, added a fourth camera to all buses to improve student safety, and collaborated with technology and purchasing teams to buy and implement new routing software and a subscription for GPS service on district buses and 299 selected vehicles.
Additionally, the administration and operations team had three members elected to posts at the Oregon Pupil Transportation Association.
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