1. Creating Bike Paths in
Lancaster, PA
Design for Change
Kids on the Move
G Ross Elementary School
November, 2010

2. “One act of real usefulness,
is worth all the abstract
sentiment in the world.”
- Ann Radcliffe
Design For Change Contest USA

3. The Challenge
Simple 4 Step Process

4. Challenge Accepted!
Fifth Graders at G Ross Elementary School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

5. Step 1: Feel
Why Bike Paths?
• Childhood obesity is a problem.
– Fifth graders felt Michelle Obama’s initiative
needed support.
– Students agreed kids need more exercise.

6. Step 1: Feel
Why Bike Paths?
• While activity can take many forms, most city
kids love to bike ride – a great way to
exercise!
– The problem: No safe place to ride.

7. Step 1: Feel
Problem:
• Busy streets allow no
room for kids to
negotiate riding
safely.
• Most kids ride in
alleys and sidewalks.

8. Step 1: Feel
W

9. Step 2: Imagine
Question:
What would it be like
for kids to be able to
ride their bicycles
safely in the city of
Lancaster?
Brainstorming our project ideas

10. Step 2: Imagine

11. Step 2: Imagine
Putting our ideas together was a lot of fun!!

12. Step 2: Imagine
• We met with city officials and leaders!
Students with Students with
Rick Gray, James Street Improvement District
Lancaster City Mayor Program Director
Ms. Nauman

13. Step 2: Imagine
We talked with Mayor Gray
about:
• green space;
• designating streets for bike
riding.
And, we suggested a
schedule for bikes just like
there is for street cleaning.

14. Step 2: Imagine
• Ms. Nauman showed us
plans for an urban parkway
that nearby Franklin and
Marshall College is creating
in our neighborhood.
• They hope to connect the
existing three-mile-long
Farmingdale Trail with the
new Brickyard site to create
a labyrinth of trails for hiking
and biking.

15. Step 2: Imagine
• We discussed our goals:
– To promote bike safety in our community.
– To support – and encourage others to support –
creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
– To show kids where they can ride for fun.
– To share with parents how important exercise is
for kids and how much fun we have riding our
bikes in the city.

16. Step 2: Imagine
We had ideas…

17. Step 2: Imagine
…and more ideas! (We had a lot of ideas!)
…

18. Step 3: Do
…but what could we DO?
• We decided:
• To write a letter and to start a petition to support
creating bike paths in the new urban parkway.
• To sponsor a community event at our school to raise
awareness of our cause, with help from the:
• Local police department
• James Street Improvement District (JSID) bike patrol
• Cycle Smart Kid’s Program
• Gretna Bike Shop

19. Step 3: Do
• We wrote a
letter to
Mr. Keith Orris,
vice president at
F&M, to show
our support.

20. Step 3: Do
• We created a petition for Ross students to
sign.

21. Step 3: Do
• We met with Mike, manager of the Gretna
bike shop – one block from our school…

22. Step 3: Do
…he was excited to help us out!

23. Step 3: Do
• But, we needed to reach more people…

24. Step 3: Do
• Our principal, Mrs. Hopkins, agreed.
• So, we worked with the local Department of
Transportation to plan an event...

25. Step 3: Do
…A Bike Rodeo!
• Who: Lancaster City Community
• What: A Bike Rodeo and Safety Program
• When: May 2011
• Where: G Ross Elementary School
Playground and Parking Lot

26. Step 4: Share
There’s no stopping us now!
Our plan is in place! We did it!
“What a cool idea!”
– Officer Ted Makauskas
“We will be there to share Bike Safety.”
–Trooper Thomas, Our State Police Community Rep.

27. Step 4: Share
…And, we aren’t finished yet!
• By the time our event takes place we will
have touched our community of:
55,129 people!

28. Challenge Conquered!
We really can change our world!

29. Thank you for the opportunity
to share our story!

30. • Armoni Stewart, Richard Scarborough,
Gordon Snyder, Danielle Figueroa, and
Corey Hauck.