REQUEST: We respectfully request that remaining PAC funds be allocated towards the “Bike Shelter
Legacy Project” to enhance and promote sustained active transportation to École Robb Road. While
fundraising efforts to date have raised $5238.00, there is an estimated additional need for up to $6000
for a permanent bike shelter to be built at our school.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Transportation by Canadians to work, school, shops, recreation and other common destinations are
increasingly being made by car (Transport Canada, 2006). In Canada, the average person spends an
HOUR each day getting to and from work. “Active transportation is vital to sustainable, healthy
communities. It’s easy to see why – when people walk and cycle, they create desirable communities with
less traffic, livelier streets and cleaner air” (Transport Canada, 2006). Using active transportation can
serve as an effective way to attain the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous daily physical
activity (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, 2014). On average, students attend school nearly 200
days per academic year, allowing ample time for healthy habits such as walking or biking to become a
part of a regular routine (Alberta Education, 2007).
BENEFITS OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
 Increases physical activity/health
 Efficient transportation
 Improved air quality
 Reduced contributions to climate change
 Improved livability and social capital
AIM: Our aim is to promote lifelong habits of active transportation, and there is a need to invest in
infrastructure that supports these behaviours.
EVIDENCE OF NEED: In order to promote year-long sustained biking to school, there is a need for a
permanent bike shelter to protect the bikes from our harsh winter weather. Results from the
transportation study done at Ecole Robb Road suggest that of the 448 students who attend the school,
more than 50% are driven to and from school each day. During the bike to school week, over half of the
student population (n=226) biked to school each day for a total of 2009 kilometres. This clearly
demonstrates there are students at our school with the ability to bike to school, if proper infrastructure is
developed.
Mr. Burdett’s grade five class did an active transportation research project, gathering photos and
childrens’ perspectives on what helps and hinders active transportation. Bike lanes and shelters were
one of the top three issues identified by the majority of students in this class. From the childrens’
perspectives, having no bike shelter makes it more difficult for kids to bike on rainy days, and ruins their
bikes as they become rusty from prolonged exposure to rain. The students presented their results to the
Town of Comox. The Town of Comox is currently reviewing Robb Avenue and will be re-designing Robb
Ave to include a bike lane for our students. They will integrate as much of the input as possible from the
students research project. Together, the Town of Comox and the Ecole Robb Road PAC could create a
lasting legacy of active transportation for many years to come.
ERR has made great headway in promoting active school travel in the
last few years, but we need to show our continued commitment by
providing a safe place to lock and store their bikes at school. In 2014,
Ecole Robb Road won the best overall active travel in all of BC during
Bike to School Week, has organized two bike swaps to raise funds and
has created awareness of active transportation with students and the
local government.
Funds raised from 2014, 2015 Bike Swaps: $3580
Bike to School week 2014 and 2015 at Ecole Robb Road were fantastic
events for our students and brought us as a school-community even
closer together. We all enjoyed seeing students so proud of themselves
for biking all the way from home to school. The kids were so excited
about biking to school and it's certain many students will continue to bike
to school. Our participation numbers as well as the distance travelled
indicates our school's commitment to promoting active school
travel. However, the best outcome from Bike to School week was the
opportunity it created for so many families to realize biking to school is a
truly attainable and fun goal, with so many benefits. Bike to School week
may be over, but the number of students biking to school continues to
soar with our racks still overflowing on Monday June 1st!
PROJECT DETAILS
Lauren Lan met with the
School District 71 staff and
has the following project
details:


Building design to be drafted and paid for by SD71 (fall 2015). These designs can then be
accessed by any SD71 school, with the goal for every school in the district to have the same
structure. Building to commence, possibly late fall 2015, winter 2016 if we have the funds to
cover labour and materials
All labour must be completed by SD71; unfortunately we cannot accept any volunteer labour
Funds raised from 2014, 2015 Bike Swaps
Funds raised from Walk n Wheel a Thon
Unused funds from Bike to School Week
Total Funds Raised
Design Draft for Bike Shelter
Total Project Estimated Costs
Funds Needed
$3580
$1578
$200
$5358
In-kind donation from SD71
$8000-$12,000 (labour and materials)
$2642 - $6642