Safe Routes

Safe Routes

Many child pedestrian fatalities in Denmark, 1970s

Odense pilot program reduced the number of injured school children by 30% to 40%

Caught on in UK and Canada in the 1990’s; Bronx, NY in 1997

History of Safe Routes to School

Why Safe Routes?

Physical activity

Most kids aren’t getting

the physical activity they

need

U.S. youth overweight rates

Overweight children have an increased risk of…

•Type 2 Diabetes

•Low self esteem

•Aggravating existing asthma

•Sleep apnea

•Decreased physical functioning

•Many other negative emotional & physical effects

Physical activity recommendation for children:

At least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.(US Depts. of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, 2005)

Promoting safe walking and bicycling is an ideal strategy to increase physical activity.

Fewer kids are biking and walking. More parents are driving.

2001: 16% walked

1969: 42% walked

(CDC, 2005)

Individual barriers to walking and bicycling to school

Long distances 62% Traffic danger 30% Adverse weather 19% Fear of crime danger 12%(CDC, 2005)

Students who live within 1 mile and walk or bike: 2001: 63% 1969: 87%(CDC, 2005)

It’s not just distance

ROAD and TRAFFIC-Traffic danger

When speeds are lowered from 40 to 20 mph injuries are decreased from 85% 5% deaths.

ROAD and TRAFFIC-Conditions make it hard to walk or bike

Adverse weather

Both perceptions and realities

Some low probability events provoke the greatest fears

Communities are finding ways to safeguard against these fears

Fear of crime danger

•Traffic flow problems

•Abandoned buildings

•Illegal behaviors

Difficult community issues

Creating a Safe Routes Program

• Involve the entire community• Utilize existing people and groups with interest• Collect data-Map your community• Analyze problems• Identify projects and Develop a plan• Evaluate, make needed changes and keep

moving forward

Elements of a Safe Routes

•Education•Enforcement•Encouragement•Engineering•Evaluation

Education

Teaching safety skills

Creating safety awareness

Fostering life-long safety habits

Includes parents, neighbors and other drivers

Enforcement

Increasing awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists

Improving driver behavior

Helpings children follow traffic rules

Decreasing parent perceptions of danger

Encouragement

Increasing popularity of walking and biking

Is an easy way to start SRTS programs

Emphasizes fun of walking and biking

Engineering

Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements

Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements

On-street bicycle facilities

Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities,

Secure bicycle parking facilities

• More children walking and bicycling to and from schools • Decreased traffic congestion • Improved childhood health –decrease obesity•Encouragement of healthy and active lifestyles •Improved community safety – bike, walking and traffic• Reduced fuel consumption and improve air quality• Enhanced community accessibility • Improvements to the physical environment that increase the ability to walk and bicycle to and from schools •Increased interest in bicycle and pedestrian accommodations throughout a community• Improved partnerships among schools, local municipalities, parents, and other community groups, including non-profit organizations

Desired outcomes of the Safe Routes to School Program include:

Next Steps

What would help neighborhood watch Speed limits More pedestrian traffic ___ ___

Contact Information Connie Abert

Waupaca County UW-Extension 715-258-6226 811 Harding ST., Waupaca connie.abert@ces.uwex.edu