Milpitas Safe Routes to School: Full Circle

Do you remember the 2016 Santa Clara County transportation sales tax measure? It was a while ago, but it is one of SVBC’s best achievements. 

A county-wide transportation sales tax measure is a highly political endeavor.  It weaves together the desires of the electorate, the priorities of the people and businesses who fund the campaign, and policy makers plus special interests. That is why, in this highly political environment, SVBC was proud to convince the powers that be to include a substantial amount of funding for bike and pedestrian projects/programs. Fast forward to today, and that sales tax that 71% of residents voted for is making a difference. 

One example we are excited to tell you about is in Milpitas. And, we are hoping you can help. Do you know anyone with kids in Milpitas? Read on to find out why. 

Each city in the County receives a chunk of the Measure B tax measure funding for bike and pedestrian education and encouragement programs, (which are different from infrastructure like bike lanes.) The cities are free to spend their share of the education and encouragement funds on any programs that entice more people to ride and walk.

After carefully researching several possible options, Milpitas decided to use a portion of its money to launch a Safe Routes to Schools program. We’re particularly excited that SVBC was selected by the City to create the program from scratch. We’re also excited that the City opted for depth, over breadth. Often, safe routes programs are peanut buttered around, with each student getting one class over the course of a year instead of a comprehensive year-long program. Milpitas decided that it wants to go deep in just a few schools to ensure that the program leads to lasting behavior change amongst students and parents. 

To do that, SVBC is creating a Steering Committee and administering a parent survey, with the end goal of a Safe Routes to School Program at two elementary schools. Over the last year SVBC staff has been in research and recruitment mode – spending time on a bike in Milpitas, connecting with peers, and reviewing Milpitas Bicycle and Pedestrian plans while always keeping an eye and ear out for awesome people to support the success of the program. Is that you? Do you live in Milpitas or know someone and want to get involved? If so, click here and find out how you can help, or email the SVBC project manager, Diego Ortiz, at diego@bikesiliconvalley.org. 

One thing that is likely not seen as a challenge for most residents and visitors to Milpitas, and something that is clear for bike riders, is that the city is spread amongst a network of canals, freeways, expressways, and rail lines – which makes biking from north to south or east to west quite the challenge. That said, when one rides into some of the more suburban residential areas, riding without fear or stress is slightly more common. 

With this reality comes certain everyday-life behaviors and trends  – ones that rarely include bicycles or other forms of active transportation as a means for recreation or utility. Through our SRTS program, SVBC is learning what kinds of levers to pull and activities to try to increase the amount of people riding bikes for utility, specifically at schools in neighborhoods where riding is safer.

The infrastructure challenges in Milpitas don’t keep VD Ngo from toting his two kids around town in his cargo e-bike, though. VD is a full-time landscape architect as well as the PTA President at his daughter’s school – which will be one of the schools that SVBC will collaborate with on this project. We’re lucky to have VD as a member of our SRTS Steering Committee in Milpitas.

If you live, work and/or play in Milpitas (or perhaps someone you know does) and while reading this, think, “hey, I’ve got some experience riding a bike in Milpitas” or “dude, I’ve been thinking about riding with my kids to and from school”, you could be another valuable member to the Steering Committee! To learn more, you can join an upcoming information session – or you can email the SVBC project manager, Diego Ortiz, at diego@bikesiliconvalley.org.