Back in May, we asked you to take action against the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) proposed “system performance measures” that would have measured the speed of cars and trucks in seven different ways, while devoting no measures at all to people walking, bicycling, and taking transit.
Fired Up! That’s the best way I can describe the energy on the first day of the 3rd Safe Routes to School National Conference, which is being held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. About 600 people from nearly every state in the US came here seeking to learn, share and build connections so that they can go home with new tools to improve their communities, making them safer for kids to walk and bike – improving health, communities and the environment.
With Congress in recess this week, we have a short breather. So I’m taking this opportunity to bring you up to speed on where things stand on the transportation bill. The past three weeks have been action-packed—and there’s more to come next week and beyond.
Hi, my name is Kathy Cooke, and I'm network coordinator for the Safe Routes Partnership! Even though I battle daily to get my two sons to put on a jacket or long pants during Portland's rainier months, I've found ways to make sure other "systems" are in place that help them get safely to and from school. We have tools at the ready to fix their bike brakes or pump air in their tires.
Please note that the Request to Host for the 2013 Safe Routes to School National Conference was not released on April 16 as stated below. Stay tuned as we will send it out as soon as possible!
As I learn more about the communities in the Greater Washington, DC region, I am learning about the unique approaches and challenges to increasing walking and bicycling in each community. For example, some schools do not allow kids to walk or bicycle to school.
From Bicycling Magazine to NPR's Talk of the Nation, the topic of Safe Routes to School is in the headings and creating a national conversation!
For the past two weeks veteran and budding bicyclists around the country have been peddling the joys of pedaling by participating in the National Bike Challenge , National Bike to S
A Matter of the “Heart”
Hi! Welcome to my blog.
After several weeks of reports that Congressional conferees on the transportation bill were making progress, last week saw a flurry of news stories in the Capitol Hill trade press that negotiations are on the rocks. House Republicans from the Transportati
All Safe Routes to School programs benefit from evaluation. Thoughtful data collection and analysis helps communities to identify issues, appropriate strategies to address those issues, set goals, and determine results. Data collected can further influence funding by providing a fuller picture of community needs and prospective projects.
In our upcoming September webinar, we will delve into tools to support your funding applications and existing programs. The one-hour session will include an overview of Colorado’s EnviroScreen, an interactive environmental justice mapping and health screening tool developed for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This dynamic resource enables users to identify areas with current and past environmental inequities, pinpoint areas where disproportionately impacted communities have a greater health burden and/or face more environmental risks and identify geographic areas that meet the definition of disproportionately impacted communities under Colorado law.
Additionally, given the closure of the National Safe Routes to School Data System, we will be discussing new means of recording student travel tallies and parent surveys. This data is a required component for Colorado Safe Routes to School grant applications. All those interested in submitting applications for our upcoming Colorado Safe Routes to grant cycle, join us as we share our suggestions to help you prepare your best submission!
*Note: While this webinar is designed to give an overview of tools available for evaluation within your program, special attention will be given to attendees preparing a Colorado Safe Routes to School FY 25 Application.
I love living in Southern California, especially the Los Angeles neighborhood I call
The Safe Routes to Parks is a research-backed intervention to boost rates of physical activity that can have positive health benefits. In a systematic review, the Community Preventive Services Task Force found a significant increase in physical activity related to parks, greenways, and trails when they are paired with at least one other intervention – community engagement, structured programs, public awareness, and/or access enhancements. Safe Routes to Parks is a programmatic way to apply that research to boost physical activity in your community. This factsheet outlines five actions champions can take to get started.
The first Ohio network meeting was held on Tuesday, June 19 at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Central Office, to kick off the Safe Routes Partnership’s efforts in Ohio.
The Safe Routes Partnership has pulled together resources to help applicants successfully win Safe Streets and Roads for All funding. In 2025, there is $1 billion available for communities through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to develop plans and implement strategies to improve roadway safety. Applications are as short as two pages, and chances of success are very high. The deadline is June 26, 2025. The Safe Routes Partnership is here to help you win this funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Information about SS4A
Digital versions of the below worksheets are available to copy and reuse for your community via Google. Google will prompt you to make a copy of the worksheet first.
Want to edit it in Word? Click File > Download
SS4A Implementation Grant Worksheet
SS4A Demonstration Worksheet
How can we better promote walking and bicycling to school among girls? Studies show that the odds of walking and bicycling to school are 40 percent lower in girls than in boys (Giles-Corti et al, 2011;
Physical activity has been central in my life since I learned to run and ride a bike as a kid. Though my career military parents moved my family often, they always prioritized living near a neighborhood school so that my sisters and I could walk or bicycle.
School is in session, and getting students to and from home in a safe, timely manner is essential to a healthy learning environment. Students grow, learn and eventually graduate from one school to another. In Gahanna, Ohio the students are growing and maturing, as is the Safe Routes to School program.
THE TREE TRUNK
