March 2008
The number of kids on the Walking School Bus increased from 160 to 250. The WSB serves Blue Ridge, Fairview, Grant, Lee, Ridgeway, Russell Blvd. and West Blvd. Elementary Schools.
April 2008
A new Safe Routes To School Environmental Impact Report titled: Safe Routes To School Steps to a Greener Future was release. Five cities are featured in the report, including Columbia. The report states that PedNet’s Walking School Bus program has reduced Columbia’s greenhouse emissions by an estimated 224 automobile miles per day. That is a reduction of 40,320 miles each school year, producing 19 fewer tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and 1 less ton of other pollutants including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrous oxides. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of the students also walk or bicycle home from school, further increasing the environmental impact.
May 3-10, 2008
The 7th Annual Bike Walk and Wheel Week kicked off with a family bike ride lead by Mayor Darwin Hindman. Richard and Patty King were the Honorary Chairpersons. Events of the week included the Celebrity Bike-Car Challenge, the dedication of the new Chamber of Commerce footbridge, and the GetAbout Columbia Open House at 101 N. 7th St. There was also a Women's Bike Repair and Maintenance Class, Columbia Try Transit Day, a PedNet Scavenger Hunt, and of course, Breakfast Stations Day. The week ended with a Mothers' Day Bike Ride
July 2010
The Columbia City Council held a public hearing to receive comment on a list of about $16 million of proposed trails, sidewalks, and intersection improvements.
PedNet Board and Coalition members gathered forces to advocate for two important trail connectors - the East Side Trail Connector (Rock Hill Park to Stadium trail, with the Bluffdale link) and the Library Trail Connector (South Garth - MKT trail). These two projects had the greatest potential to maximize active transportation options at minimal cost. Unfortunately, they were cut from the list by Council members, with Mayor Darwin Hindman being the only vocal supporter of these projects.
September-October 2008
The Walking School Bus has 400 children sign up for the Fall 2008 program. 1651 kids participate in International Walk To School Day.
PedNet launches a new website at www.pednet.org and redesigns the look of the monthly newsletter. The new uniform, professional look is a big hit with the PedNet membership.
The Bicycle Commuter Act of 2008 passes. Starting in January 2009, workers who use bicycles as their primary transportation mode to get to and from work will be eligible for a $20-a-month, tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses. In return, employers will be able to deduct the expense from their federal taxes. The reimbursements are only good at businesses that pay taxes.
October is Operation Share the Road month
Robert Johnson, Licensed Cycling Instructor and Education Coordinator for the PedNet Coalition, trained all 150 Columbia Police Officers on the rights and responsibilities of cyclists and motorists as they pertain to joint roadway use. The Columbia Police Department has designated October as Operation Share the Road month. Throughout October officers will increase the enforcement of city and state statutes regarding the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and drivers.
November 2008
City of Columbia Transit released ridership numbers for the fiscal years of 2007 and 2008. Ridership went up 11% and bicycles on the bus increased by 54%!
- Total Ridership on Columbia Transit
- FY2008=1,854,029
- FY2007= 1,659,647
- Number of Bikes utilizing Columbia Transit
- FY2008= 8,363
- FY2007= 5,411
December 2008
The PedNet Coalition and the Active Living Partnership was awarded a $400,000 grant aimed at improving the health and fitness of local children.
The Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities grant, awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a national program focused on creating healthier communities through policy advocacy. Columbia was one of just nine cities nationwide to receive this designation. The goal over the next four years was to make Columbia a model healthy community with policy changes that remove barriers to routine physical activity and access to healthy food, especially for children. We want to make the healthy choice (eg. walking to school or eating vegetables) the easy choice.
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