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Mount Doug Transportation Project
Students at Mount Douglas High School in Victoria organize events and activities to raise awareness of transportation concerns.
Choosing the Issue:
A vehicle trip reduction program is the focus of the Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) organization based in Vancouver. Their "off ramp" program, the goal of which is to reduce car trips by 20%, is designed for high school students. When a letter of introduction was sent to Mount Doug High two years ago, students were eager to be part of the program.
What They Did:
Although BEST provides an "off ramp" coordinator, the program is largely student led. They raise awareness of transportation concerns by planning, organizing and carrying out events and activities at their school around special days such as Earth Day. At Mount Doug, Montana, an enthusiastic grade 12 student, leads the group this year.
The past year's activities included a labyrinth walk with candy and jazzy quotes at the centre; the unveiling of a new bike rack; the making and distributing of fortune cookies with funny transportation messages at the Chinese New Year; a slurpee run (neither motorized not foot transport allowed); and a treasure trek which lead to great prizes, which were donated by merchants in the community. Learning to approach members of the community for support has been part of benefit of the program for the students.
What Happened?
Although there is no firm data, one parking lot at the school is rarely used, though it used to be full. More bikes grace the new racks. On event days, the number of bikes ridden to school is about three times the norm.
» Case study: Transportation project (pdf)
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