Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #152: November 2018

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes Partnership. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Join us!

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  1. Walking, Voting Rights, and Why #SafeRoutesToVote Matters
  2. Paper to Pavement: Putting Safe Routes to Parks in Action
  3. States Leap Ahead with TAP Funding
  4. Public Transportation: Part of Safe Routes in Oregon
  5. Join us for Two Upcoming Webinars on Safe Routes to School and Walk Audits
  6. School District Policies: Promoting Safe Routes to School Through Policy
  7. Join the Safe Routes to School Google Group Conversation!
  8. Effective Messaging for Promoting Walking and Biking: Best Practices and Equity Framing
  9. Community Preventative Services Task Force Recommends Active Travel to School
  10. News and Events

1. Walking, Voting Rights, and Why #SafeRoutestoVote Matters

As an organization dedicated to safe routes to all destinations, we believe in #SafeRoutestoVote. But what does Safe Routes to Vote mean? In a democracy, we need our government to foster our ability to vote—and that means that access to voting must be advanced by our policies, our neighborhood and street design, and the actions of our elected officials. In our latest blog post, we reflect on the historical and present significance of #SafeRoutesToVote and highlight ways communities are supporting and encouraging voting this election cycle.

Vote on November 6!

2. Colorful crosswalks. Temporary bike lanes. Playful paths. Creating new green space. These are just a few ways to improve local park access!

We just wrapped up work with our first cohort of communities in the Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program, which provides individualized consultation, group trainings, and grant funding to nonprofits to improve safe, equitable park access in their communities. Read about some of the ways these communities have increased awareness and garnered local support for Safe Routes to Parks by moving beyond their plans to actions.

Save the date: Applications for the 2019 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program will open on November 5!

3. States Leap Ahead with TAP Funding

With Congress in recess till after the November elections, we are focusing on how states are handling their Transportation Alternatives Program allocations. This quarter, states obligated nearly $300 million to get hundreds of walking, biking, and Safe Routes to School programs and infrastructure projects moving. Unfortunately, we did see several states transfer money away from TAP to other transportation projects, but only three states failed to use all their money by the deadline. All in all, we celebrate the $2.4 billion in TAP funding that is making biking and walking safer and more accessible nationwide.

4. Public Transportation: Part of Safe Routes in Oregon

Public transportation is an important complement to active transportation improvements: with a functional transit system, people who walk and bike by choice or by necessity have a wider range of destinations they can get to. In Oregon, we pushed for the new Oregon Public Transportation Plan to better address the needs of marginalized people, examine housing affordability as a part of equity and transit access, and to improve transit access to parks and nature. And in Salem, Oregon, we are pushing the area transit provider, Cherriots, to improve equitable access to public transit and to lower (or waive) transit fares for young people.

5. Join us for Two Upcoming Webinars on Safe Routes to School and Walk Audits

Join us for two free webinars in November covering Safe Routes to School and walkability assessments.

Learn the Ropes: How to Start Your Safe Routes to School Program
November 13, 2018 at 10:00am Pacific/1:00pm Eastern

Safe Routes to School programs can take many forms, developing organically or through a structured process. This webinar will highlight different types of programs and how each was started. Hear from city and school staff on best practices and ideas for how to start a program in your community. Register here.
 
Walk Audit 2.0: Walkability Assessment Next Steps
November 15, 2018 at 10:00am Pacific/1:00pm Eastern

In a walk audit, community members go for a walk together, noting what makes their streets feel comfortable for walking and what’s missing. But what to do with this information? In this webinar, we'll hear from community partners in Oregon & Washington who have completed walk audits, and explore next steps for turning their vision into reality. Register here.

6. School District Policies: Promoting Safe Routes to School Through Policy

One important way to strengthen your Safe Routes to School program is by passing a Safe Routes to School district policy. A district policy demonstrates your school board’s backing for Safe Routes to School, creates a permanent institutional commitment, establishes consistent roles and expectations within the district, and can eliminate obstacles to Safe Routes to School activities and efforts. A new fact sheet highlights how districts can pass simple or in-depth policies that set out a basic commitment to Safe Routes to School or go further and detail actions, roles, and principles that are strongly supportive of active travel to school.

7. Join the Safe Routes to School Google Group Discussion List

Are you a member of the Safe Routes to School Google Group email discussion list? Join a vibrant online community space to discuss and exchange information with other Safe Routes to School, walking, biking, and equity advocates. Click here to sign up or email margaux@saferoutespartnership.orgto request to be added.

8. Effective Messaging for Promoting Walking and Biking: Best Practices and Equity Framing

We’ve updated our guide to effectively communicating about walking and biking with a new section focused on equity language and framing.

9. Community Preventative Services Task Force Recommends Active Travel to School

Earlier this month, the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) released recommendations for interventions to increase active travel to school based on evidence they increase walking among students and reduce risks for traffic-related injury. The recommendation is based on a systematic review of 52 studies published through June 2018. The CDC’s High-Impact in 5 years initiative highlights Safe Routes to School to increase physical activity to and from schools for students and adolescents.

10. News and Events