Case Studies

CLIENT
Timiskaming Health Unit

PROJECT
Walk 'N Roll, Active School Travel (AST) Website Development

TIMEFRAME
2021

SCOPE OF SERVICE
Website Development, Graphic Design, Logistics and Tactical Planning.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Walk ‘N Roll Timiskaming (formerly Timiskaming Active School Travel) is the collaborative effort of several partners in Timiskaming District working together to promote Active School Travel (AST).

Participating elementary schools work with the Timiskaming Health Unit to carry out School Travel Planning – a process that brings together school and community stakeholders to address safety issues around the school and encourage more students and families to take the active route.

Together we identify the schools' unique travel challenges, create an action plan, and carry out initiatives that will enhance student safety and mobility.

OBJECTIVE

The Timiskaming Health Unit (THU) initiated the Timiskaming Active School Travel Project intending to enhance school zone safety and promote active travel among students. The project aimed to encourage students to walk, wheel, or ride the bus to school through bilingual education and awareness campaigns. The key objectives of the project were as follows:

1. Improve School Zone Safety: Implement measures to enhance safety in school zones and promote safe travel options for students.
2. Increase Active School Travel: Encourage students and their families to choose active modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, or using public transportation for commuting to school.
3. Integration with Curriculum: Provide teachers with materials and presentations to integrate active travel concepts into the current curriculum.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The project targeted three main audiences:

1. Families: The project aimed to engage families and provide them with resources and information to support active school travel choices for their children. Addressing logistics and safety concerns was a key focus for this audience.
2. Teachers: The project provided materials and presentations to teachers, facilitating the integration of active travel concepts into the current curriculum. The goal was to encourage teachers to incorporate active travel-related topics into their lessons.
3. Students: The project aimed to engage students directly through key messaging and activity promotions that would encourage them to choose active modes of transportation when travelling to school.
   

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

1. Graphical and Intuitive Content Management System: The website aimed to provide a user-friendly and visually appealing content management system that could be easily maintained by both technical and non-technical staff.

2. WCAG 2.0 (AA) Accessibility Compliance: The website was designed to meet accessibility standards, ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, could access and navigate the content effectively.

3. Blog & Events: The Blog & Events feature on the website serves as a central hub for users to stay informed and engaged with the latest news and information about the Walk ’N Roll program. From exciting ideas and initiatives to encourage active transportation in the community to updates on upcoming events, users can find all the relevant information they need to stay connected and involved. Whether you’re looking for inspiration to get more people walking and wheeling or simply want to stay up to date with community events, our News & Events feature has you covered.

4. Responsive Design: The website was designed to be responsive, adapting seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a consistent and optimal user experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

5. Intuitive Contact Forms: The website features intuitive forms that make it easy for parents, teachers, and principals to express their interest in getting their school involved in active school travel programming. Simply fill out the form and reach out to us to initiate the process of fostering active transportation initiatives within your school community.

6. Classroom Resources: The website features a comprehensive Teacher Toolkit designed to equip educators with resources and materials to enhance their students’ understanding and abilities in walking and wheeling safely within their community. Whether students choose to walk, bike, or scoot to school, or other destinations, this toolkit empowers teachers to promote active travel and foster a culture of safety and awareness. By incorporating these resources into their curriculum, teachers can play a vital role in encouraging active transportation and reaping the benefits it offers to individuals and communities alike.

7. Translate Tool: The website features a convenient translate tool that allows users to easily switch between English and French with just a click of a button, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience. This seamless translation functionality enables users to navigate and understand the content in their preferred language, promoting inclusivity and improving the overall user experience.

8. Website Analytics: The deliverables included the implementation of website analytics tools, to track and analyze user behaviour, traffic sources, and other relevant metrics, providing valuable insights for continuous improvement.

CONCLUSION
The Timiskaming Active School Travel Project successfully implemented a community-based initiative to enhance school zone safety and encourage active travel among students. By engaging families, teachers, and students through a comprehensive communication strategy, the project aimed to achieve positive behaviour changes and promote the numerous benefits of active school travel. With careful planning, collaboration, and the utilization of available resources, the project contributed to creating a healthier, safer, and more sustainable school environment in the Timiskaming District.