Search title image

TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

November/December 2006

Merit Awards:
Gunn High School’s GO-FAST Program:
Taking on Teen Car Culture

Gunn
Students at Gunn High School are doing their part — by carpooling, bicycling and riding transit — to reduce congestion on local roads. (Photo: Noah Berger)

Almost nothing is harder to change than a teenager’s mind, especially on how “cool” it is to drive your own car to school. Not surprisingly, in some affluent communities, the crush of high school commuters is creating negative impacts — congested streets around schools, compromised safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and clogged parking lots, not to mention increased automobile emissions.

Gunn High School in Palo Alto faced this problem head-on after a school survey in 2002 showed that more than 60 percent of its students were arriving at school in a car. The school community came together to form the Gunn Organization for Alternative Safe Transportation, or GO-FAST, under the direction of the student activities director. GO-FAST committed itself to taking on “teen car culture” and creating incentives for walking, biking, carpooling and using public transit.

In 2003, GO-FAST raised parking fees and restructured the school’s parking permit policies to favor carpoolers; increased bus ridership by subsidizing Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) monthly passes with the money from parking permit sales; laid a new sidewalk and installed bike racks; and gave treats and gifts to cyclists through a Pedaling for Prizes program. GO-FAST also made information about commute alternatives readily available to parents and students in back-to-school packets, a monthly newsletter and e-mail updates.

The effects were immediate. The number of solo student drivers dropped precipitously, while carpooling shot up and traffic began to shrink. In 2003, 85 students reported they were part of a carpool while 250 students drove to school alone. By 2005 the numbers were reversed — with 245 students in carpools and only 83 students regularly driving to school solo. (A recent law that restricts new drivers from transporting passengers who are under 20 years of age could reduce the number of Gunn carpoolers.)

“It’s good for the environment; I mean, that’s kind of the point of carpooling,” said Student Body President Nikki Dodani. “Plus it’s fun — you get to be with your friends and talk and listen to music and sing songs!”

“This is a joint venture between the school and the community,” said school Principal Noreen Likins. “I sincerely hope that other schools start similar programs.”
— Karin Betts

Contents