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Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Walk It Out: Walking to Transform Individual and Community Health
June 7, 2013Lake Merritt Garden Center
Kendra Bridges, MSProject Coordinator
SRTS Technical Assistance Resource Center
Safe Routes to School: Increasing Health for Children and Families
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Fewer kids are biking and walking More parents are driving
1969 200948% walked or biked 13% walked or biked12% driven 44% driven
(U.S. DOT, 2009)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Parents driving
School travel by private vehicle accounts for 10-14% of morning rush hour traffic.
(McDonald, Brown, Marchetti Pedroso, 2011)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
The consequences of this…
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
…instead of this can be alarming.
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Promoting safe walking and bicycling is an ideal strategy to increase physical activity
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Make walking and bicycling safe ways to get to school
Encourage more children to walk and bike to school
Safe Routes to School programs
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
School Siting Issues: A Generation Ago
Small (average of 127 students)
Located in community centers
48% of kids walked or biked to school
(U.S. EPA, 2003)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
School Siting Issues: Today Mega-schools (average 521 students) Schools located on 10 to 30+ acres fringe land Lowest-cost construction(National Center for Education Statistics, 2008)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
It’s Not Just Distance
Students living within one mile or less who walk or bike to school:
1969 – 89%2009 – 35%
(U.S. DOT, 2009)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Individual Barriers to Walking and Bicycling to School
Long distances 62%
Traffic danger 30%
Adverse weather 19%
Fear of crime danger 12%
(CDC, 2005)
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
SRTS Programs are Part of the Solution…
…to increase physical activity
…to improve unsafe walking and biking conditions
…to improve poor air quality by reducing vehicle emissions
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Every School Faces a Different Challenge
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
All 5Es require participation and support from the
school community!
Successful SRTS Programs Include:
•Education•Encouragement•Enforcement•Engineering•Evaluation
Browns Valley Elementary School
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Education Teaches safety skills
Creates safety awareness
Fosters life-long safety habits
Includes parents, neighbors and other drivers
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Who Needs Educational Messages?
1. Children2. Parents3. Neighbors
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Strategies to Address Personal Security Concerns
• Education strategies• Teach street smart skills• Educate and engage families• Walking school bus/bike train• Corner captains• Engage stakeholders and law enforcement
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Sources of Instructors Teacher
Police or fire personnel
Local bike club/advocate
Public health professional
Local Safe Kids coalition
League of American Bicyclists (LAB) instructor
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Education Summary Children
• Pedestrian and bicyclist safety• Personal security• Health and Environment
Parents• Pedestrian and bicyclist safety guidelines to reinforce• Personal security skills• School drop off and pick up procedures• Tips for safe driving near the school
Neighbors• Watch for / yield to pedestrians and bicyclists• Drive slowly• Keep sidewalks clear• Prune plants
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Encouragement Increases
popularity of walking and biking
Is an easy way to start SRTS programs
Emphasizes fun of walking and biking
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Encouragement Programs1. Events
2. Walking school buses
3. Individual competition
4. Contests
5. Route map promotion
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
1. Events
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Celebrate International Walk to School Day / Month in October
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
2. Walking school buses and bicycle trains
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
3. Individual competition
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
4. Contests
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Enforcement Increases awareness
of pedestrians and bicyclists
Improves driver behavior
Helps children follow traffic rules
Decreases parent perceptions of danger
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
Evaluation
Is the program making a difference?
Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center
TARC assists local communities with creating SRTS programs by providing trainings, technical assistance, and resources to implement safe and successful SRTS
strategies throughout California.
Kendra BridgesRegional Coordinator, Caltrans Districts 1,2 & 4
SRTS Technical Assistance Resource Center
www.casaferoutestoschool.org(916) 552-9832
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