Safe Routes to SchoolUsing Leadership to

Increase Physical Activity and Build Healthy, Sustainable Communities

Deb Hubsmith, DirectorSafe Routes to School National Partnership

Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Founded in 2005 to help states and communities advance SRTS

Includes nearly 500 organizations, agencies and schools

Working to change policies at national, state and local levels

Is developing best practices, providing technical assistance and helping to build leadership

What is Safe Routes to School? Goal is to make it safer for more

children to walk and bicycleto and from school – this increases physical activity before and after school

Seeks to reverse the decline: In 1969, 48% of children

walked or bicycled to school, including 88% of those living within 1 mile

In 2009, only 13% walk or bicycle to school, including just 38% of those within 1 mile

There is $612 million in federal funding available through state Departments of Transportation from FY2005-2009, created in 2005 through the federal SAFETEA-LU transportation bill, plus additional funds provided through the transportation bill extensions.

What are the health benefits of SRTS?

SRTS can play an important role in school wellness plans by increasing physical activity: One-third of all children are now

obese, overweight, or at significant risk of becoming so

Lack of physical activity a significant contributor

Students who walk 1 mile to and from school get two-thirds of recommended levels of physical activity

Children who walk to school are more physically active throughout the day

Physically active children tend to have better academic achievement, enhanced concentration, better classroom behavior

The Five “Es” of a SRTS Program

Evaluation Engineering Education Enforcement Encouragement

How Do I Start a SRTS Program?Leadership and Collaboration Comes First

Buy-in and involvement of a range of partners is critical: Parents and students The mayor or city manager The local transportation department (city public

works/engineering or region’s MPO) Local health and police departments School district transportation officials School principal and personnel (school nurse, PE teacher) Community organizations and advocates Local businesses (including bike shops!)

Structure depends on scale: Individual School Team(s) City/County/School District-wide Task Force

Traffic Safety 30% of children’s traffic deaths happen while walking/bicycling. SRTS includes infrastructure upgrades, traffic enforcement, and

safety education to improve safety. Studies of existing SRTS programs show approximately a 50%

decrease in child cyclist and pedestrian collisions.

Health & Academics More than 1/3 of children are overweight or obese, and 23% of

children get no free-time physical activity.

How Do I “Sell” SRTS to Partners?Tailor the Message to your Audience

Children who walk 1 mile to & from school get 40 minutes of physical activity—and are more active throughout the day.

Research links physical activity to better classroom behavior and performance.

Environment Traffic pollution exacerbates asthma,

harms children’s lungs. 1/3 of schools in air quality danger zones. Schools designed so children can walk/bike

have measurably better air quality.

Traffic Congestion 20-30% of morning traffic is parents driving children to school. Parent vehicles account for half of school trips between ¼ and ½ mile. SRTS can increase walking/bicycling from 20 to 200%, reducing parent

drop-offs and congestion.

Cost Savings 55% of children are bused, costing $17.5 billion each year. Eliminating 1 bus route saves approx. $37,000 per year—

but can worsen congestion and safety without SRTS.

How Do I “Sell” SRTS to Partners?Tailor the Message to your Audience

Assess the Current Situation Do parent surveys to identify what parents are concerned about. Do student tallies to find out how they are coming to school. Do a “walkability” audit around the school to identify trouble spots.

Make needed short-term safety improvements Ask the city/county to repaint crosswalks, trim branches at

intersections, install signage, and prioritize sidewalk repair. Consider whether crossing guards are in the best locations.

The Team is in Place, What’s Next?Assess the Situation and Move into Action

Develop safe alternatives to get kids moving now Develop “safe walking routes” identifying sidewalks,

crosswalks, crossing guards, low-traffic roads. Organize “walking school buses” or “bike trains”

where parents and volunteers escort groups of children on the walk or bike to school.

Provide pedestrian/bicycle safety education Add pedestrian safety lessons into P.E. classes. Hold “bike rodeos” and bicycle safety courses.

Address issues with driver safety Ask law enforcement to step up patrols or add

mobile speed trailers. Work with the media to ask drivers to drive more safely near schools.

Build excitement through small promotional contests/activities Make it FUN with mileage contests, themed events, punch cards See if area businesses can donate small prizes or incentives.Keep Evaluating Your Progress Redo parent surveys and student tallies at the start and

end of each school year to measure impact.

The Team is in Place, What’s Next?Assess the Situation and Move into Action

Federal SRTS funding is available through state DOTs Nationally, there is $612 million from FY05-09 70-90% of funding is for infrastructure – building sidewalks, bike paths,

crosswalks, traffic calming, school zone signage, bike racks. 10-30% is to support education, promotion, and enforcement. Funding in most states can support local SRTS coordinators.

What about the Long Term?Apply for Federal SRTS Funding

Each state is different Each state DOT sets its own application processes,

eligibility, timelines, and criteria. Get to know your state SRTS coordinator. For contact information, go to

www.saferoutespartnership.org/state/5043. Your state may have conferences, toolkits,

free materials, and planning assistance.

State Example: Mississippi State DOT collaborates closely with the state Dept of

Health (MSDH) and state Dept of Education’s Office of Healthy Schools (MDE) on SRTS

Together, they are making children’s health a priority Incorporated Safe Routes to School in the state’s wellness

policy and physical activity standards for schools Participate in a state-level health policy group funded by the

NGA to prioritize children’s health policies Together, they are equipping health and education

professionals with needed resources MSDH invited the DOT to train health educators in the state’s

nine health districts on how to set up SRTS programs; is also producing a guidebook

MDE issued a Health in Action database of free K-8 lesson plans on health—40 specifically on SRTS.

Local Example: Flagstaff, AZ

Local county health dept implemented Walk. Bike. Get Fit. SRTS program at 2 elementary schools

Includes pedestrian/bike safety, punch-card incentive programs, personal fitness goals, school grounds walking program

Developed a classroom curriculum for grades 3-6 on the benefits of walking/bicycling, tied into state academic standards on health, science, math & geography

Went from 45 to 110 children walking/bicyclingto school, a 144% increase

Health dept. monitors student progress and has recorded exponential increase in exercise before and during school

Working to institutionalize funding by doubling traffic fines in school zones

Congress is working on the next transportation billWe are advocating to increase SRTS funding to $600 million/year.Other priorities: adding high schools, addressing regulatory burden, improving research and evaluation.In the Senate, there is a bipartisan bill:S. 1156, Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act.In the House, Rep. Oberstar of MN has incorporated many of these provisions in his Surface Transportation Authorization Act.Consider taking actionWrite your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1156Invite your Members of Congress to a SRTS eventSample letters, advocacy tools, and more information is at www.saferoutespartnership.org/national.

Will There Be Future SRTS Funding?There’s a Better Chance if You Help Advocate!

Leadership QuotesNever doubt that a small group of

thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahtma Ghandi

For More Information Questions or comments? Contact:

Deb Hubsmith, DirectorSafe Routes to School National Partnershipdeb@saferoutespartnership.org

Go to www.saferoutespartnership.org for additional resources and to sign up for our monthly newsletter e-news!