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About Bellevue SchoolPool

 

Bellevue SchoolPool, a collaboration between City of Bellevue, King County Metro and Bellevue School District, is a program that encourages families and students to explore sustainable transportation options for their commute to and from school in order to alleviate congestion at drop-off and pickup times and zones around schools.

 

SchoolPool Updated Logo

 

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How SchoolPool Works

The SchoolPool team assists Partner schools with running two SchoolPool campaigns during the school year – one in the fall, during the Walk & Roll to School Week, and one in the spring, during the Bike & Roll to School Week.

Marketing and promotional materials, stock communications, event assistance and more are available to support Partner schools’ efforts.

The SchoolPool team also assists all schools, including non-partner and private schools, interested in helping parents find carpools, walk pools ("walking school buses"), bike pools ("bike trains"), and bus buddies for school buses or public transit.

 

 

About Becoming a SchoolPool Partner School

Partnering with Bellevue SchoolPool is open to all elementary, middle and middle/high choice schools in the Bellevue School District, and in Bellevue. To become a SchoolPool Partner school for a given campaign, a school official, or a PTSA member needs to fill out a short participation survey to sign up the school for the campaign that is sent to all schools prior to each campaign. Partnering involves implementing fall and spring week-long campaigns through signage, communications to students and families and distributing student encouragement items provided by SchoolPool. For promoting the campaigns, schools receive incentives - either a $1,200 monetary incentive or, starting in 2023, up to $2,500 for a mini-grant project for small capital or safety equipment/items related to program goals; for more mini-grant information, click here.

 

New in March 2024 - Additional School Offerings!

Pedbee mascot with principal

      

Pedbee costume "Loan to Own": Kids love Pedbee, the city's pedestrian safety mascot! Now the city is offering to provide public schools in the Bellevue School District or in Bellevue with a free costume to call their own. If the costume is used at least six times over three years (with a year of grace); if not, the school can return the costume to the city. Costumes must be used for purposes that support traffic safety and trip reduction, including spring or fall SchoolPool campaigns and events that include a traffic safety theme. Promote pedestrian safety and create magical moments for your students at the same time! Contact us to learn more.

RideshareOnline school ridematch networks: Schools are invited to set up ridematch networks for students and families through the regional RideshareOnline network managed by King County Metro. City and county staff can provide guidance and assistance with setting up and operating these networks each school year so that families at your school interested in carpooling can easily find each other. The RideshareOnline tool has functionality for school networks that are open only to families of students at your school. Families can use the RideshareOnline mapping and ridematch school to find other families nearby for coordinating carpooling to and from school and other activities. Management of the network is streamlined, with assistance offered to your school representatives every step of the way. Contact us to learn more!

Fall 2023 SchoolPool Challenge

Students were encouraged to bike, walk, roll, bus or carpool to school during the Oct. 2-6, 2023 Fall Campaign! The campaign highlighted International Walk to School Day on Oct. 4, and we celebrated it all week!

Outreach and marketing materials and $1,000 direct monetary incentives were provided to all participating elementary, middle, and middle/high choice schools, as with each fall and spring campaign. Also, schools may now apply to receive a mini-grant for up to $2,500 for specific, relevant expenses in lieu of the direct monetary incentive. The application packet is now available here.

Click here to see a list of the 20 schools that participated in fall 2023.

 

Annual Districtwide Travel Survey 2023

The voluntary Annual Districtwide Travel Survey provides data on how students travel to and from school, and helps evaluate the strategies for the Bellevue SchoolPool program, which aims to reduce drop-off and pick-up congestion at schools.

In spring 2023, 490 families provided answers for 701 students. Based on the survey, 41% of children are driven alone to and from school, and 59% use a different mode of transportation. The percentage of children being driven alone has decreased since 2022.

Chart showing students being driven to school 41% in 2023

 

School Attendance Area Pedestrian and Bicycle Maps

This is a great time to test out your walk or bike route to school! Go to our Interactive Routes to School Map and click on your school to find printable maps of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in your school’s attendance area.

Email us at BellevueSchoolPool@bellevuewa.gov to receive a hard copy of a map.

SchoolPool Blog Posts

Coming Soon

To submit a SchoolPool blog post, please email it to BellevueSchoolPool@bellevuewa.gov.

Spring 2023 Student Art Projects

In spring of 2023, over 200 students from participating schools submitted art projects to reflect their trips to school. Check out all of the art projects, including those that were selected to be featured on the fall 2023 campaign signage! Great work!

Resources for Schools and Families