STEP 49 PLANNING STEPS - STEP 4

Determine Goals

Goals clearly articulate what the group wants to accomplish. Goals should be S.M.A.R.T., that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound.

Example

Ways To Involve Youth

Considerations

Create 3 safe crossings between the neighborhoods and the school by next school year.



road

Conduct walkability audits to assess walking and biking conditions

Engage in a neighborhood mapping activity

Invite the local “Safe Routes to School” or other working group to speak to the youth group

Develop and deliver a survey/questionnaire to students

Young people might need guidance to frame their creative ideas into realistic goals for the project. 

With as much detail as possible, identify these additional components:

What will the project accomplish?

Why and for whom?

When?

How will the project be implemented?

Walkability Audit
crosswalkDecide the data you would like to collect.  Examples include:

  • Who are the users?

  • What kids walk or ride a bike to school?

  • What are the existing conditions of physical resources (e.g., crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes)?

  • Where are existing crosswalks? Where are the car pick-up and drop-off areas?

  • Where is the bus loading area?

  • Where do kids want to connect to?

  • What are the safety issues?

Have the students design a data collection sheet.  Study a map of the neighborhood, and decide the boundaries of the area in which data will be collected.  Have students go out in teams to collect the data through observation.  Report the results, including an overall map and discussion.