Looking back, I never would have imagined that many of the recreational activities I participated in and enjoyed, especially walking and bicycling to school, climbing ropes in PE, hiking to the local nature center, and playing games at recess, would impact my life so significantly.
This webinar from November 6, 2013 provides examples and key resources to assist in starting conversations about shared use and building relationships with school board members, school administrators and principals.
In honor of July being Parks and Recreation month, I decided to focus on how we, as Safe Routes to School advocates, can ensure that all children have the ability to be active outside all year round. Just like walking and bicycling to school, access to parks and recreation can directly impact the overall quality of life for children.
This resource is a policy statement that describes the goals of the Georgia Safe Routes to School Regional Network.
Last week, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) released their draft strategic plan for FY2014-2018. This plan will drive the USDOT’s internal workplan, so it’s important to make sure Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking is well-represented.
The federal Safe Routes to School program provides funds to support programs in each state to ensure that it is safe and easy for children to walk and bicycle to school.
This webinar from September 5, 2013 focuses on working with middle school youth and looks at programs that have effectively engaged youth in active transportation.
In early November 2013, the San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG) board adopted a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Item 7) with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The MOU commits the two agencies to working together on projects related to the implementation of the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). While the RTP/SCS is mandated by SB 375, state legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through trying land use and transportation planning in the RTP process, the MOU is strictly voluntary.
The MOU between SCAG and SANBAG demonstrates both agencies’ commitment to the policies, projects and strategies set forth in the 2012 RTP/SCS. It is important for County Transportation Commissions (CTCs) to show commitment to implementation of plans and policies.
Specific planning projects are included in SANBAG’s MOU that will transform San Bernardino County into a more walkable and bikeable place, improve the public health outcomes of its residents and help increase the number of children walking and bicycling to school. The MOU incorporates items recommended in the San Bernardino Active Transportation Vision, statistics and policy recommendations developed by stakeholders from San Bernardino County, including SANBAG staff, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Omnitrans, Safe Routes Partnership, American Lung Association, MoveIE and Inland Empire Bicycle Alliance.
This report explores environmental health and Safe Routes toSchool through a review of the relationship between environmental health and school travel, a discussion on measuring the environmental health impacts of school travel, and five examples of methods used by SRTS programs to estimate the impact of their activities on local air quality.
Did you know that about 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year? As you can guess, favorite resolutions include losing weight, exercising more, and saving more money. Do you also know that ultimately only about 8 percent of resolutions are sustained?
These briefings sheets were developed with funding support from the National Center for Safe Routes to School. The briefing sheets are intended for use by transportation engineers and planners to support their active participation in the development and implementation of Safe Routes to School programs and activities.
When I see children walking to or from school, I notice their interactions. They talk, laugh, and maybe drop their bags to engage in a spontaneous race. They move in pairs or small pods. There’s a special kind of connection as they transition to school or home. It’s an image which brings me hope.
This document explains a process to help transportationprofessionals identify schools within a city, schooldistrict or other local jurisdiction that meritadditional review for specific pedestrianinfrastructure improvements based on safetyconsiderations.
All of us are working hard to make our neighborhoods safer for kids and families to walk to and from school. But now, we need your help to ensure that the health and safety of our loved ones does not take a back seat to automobile passengers, simply because they chose active transportation over driving.
Safe Kids Worldwide released a report Walking Safely: A Report to the Nation that examines 15-year trends in child pedestrian injuries and deaths in the U.S. The report reveals that while walking safety has improved overall for children since 1995, there are still a staggering number of children hit by cars.
Southern cities and states are among our nation’s most dangerous places for walking. According to Dangerous by Design 2014, published by Smart Growth America, 9 of the top 10 most-dangerous large metro areas are located in Southern states.
This report documents the growth of Complete Streets policy adoption and provides a standard analysis of the content of more than 200 written policies adopted before January 1, 2011, highlighting policies that come closest to incorporating ten key policy elements.
As many Americans are enjoying their summer vacations, it’s a good time to look at studies on the tourism and economic benefits that bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure can generate. While this may not seem immediately relevant to our day-to-day work of making schools and neighborhoods safer for walking and bicycling, policymakers can be strongly influenced by economic arguments.
