Presentation to Beloit SRTS Taskforce Wednesday February 1,
2012 Safe Route to School (SRTS) Program
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Safe Routes to School Program
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Why Safe Routes to School?
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Physical Activity Most children are not getting the physical
activity they need
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Physical activity recommendation for children: At least 60
minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the
week. (US Depts. Of Health and Human Services and Agriculture,
2005)
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Slide 7
Fewer children are biking and walking. More parents are
driving. 2001 16% walked 1969 42% walked (CDC, 2005)
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Individual barriers to walking and biking to school Long
distances 62% Traffic danger 30% Adverse weather 19% Fear of crime
danger 12% (CDC, 2005)
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Its not just the distance
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Traffic danger
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Conditions make it hard to walk or bike
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Adverse weather
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Fear of crime danger Both perceptions and realities. Some low
probability events provoke the greatest fears. Communities are
finding ways to safeguard against these fears.
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Difficult community issues Traffic flow problems Students
crossing in front of traffic Backed up traffic Neighborhood safety
No sidewalks Hazardous crossing
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Safe Routes to School Programs Make walking and biking safe
ways to get to school Encourage more children to walk or bike to
school
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Creating an SRTS Program Involve the entire community Form a
committee Collect data Map your community Analyze problems Identify
projects that are needed Develop a plan Evaluate, make needed
changes and keep moving forward
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Elements of an SRTS Program Education Enforcement Encouragement
Engineering Evaluation
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Education Teaching safety skills Creating safety awareness
Fostering life-long safety habits Include parents, neighbors, and
other drivers
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Enforcement Increasing awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists
Improving driver behavior Helping children follow traffic rules
Decreasing parent perceptions of danger
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Encouragement Increasing popularity of walking and biking is an
easy to start SRTS programs. Emphasizes fun of walking and
biking
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Engineering Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements
Pedestrian and bike crossing improvements On-street bike facilities
Off-street bike and pedestrian facilities Secure bike parking
facilities
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Desired outcomes of the SRTS program include: Increased
bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety More children walking and
biking to and from school Improved community safety Improved air
quality Enhanced community accessibility Increase community
involvement Improved partnerships among schools, local
municipalities, parents, and other community groups Encouragement
of healthy and active lifestyles
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Next Steps
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Join the SRTS Taskforce Only 2 meetings left: Wednesday
February 22 from 4 6pm @ Kolak in the Boardroom Wednesday February
29 from 4-6pm @ Kolak in Room 202 Complete the survey on the salmon
sheet or the orange sheet if you have walked or biked in this
community If you are a parent take the parent survey online on our
website
http://wsx.sdb.k12.wi.us/sites/SafeRoutes/_layouts/viewlsts.aspx?
BaseType=4
http://wsx.sdb.k12.wi.us/sites/SafeRoutes/_layouts/viewlsts.aspx?
BaseType=4 Be a part of the community input session
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Questions? For more information: Please visit our website
http://wsx.sdb.k12.wi.us/sites/SafeRoutes/default.aspx or call
361-3365
http://wsx.sdb.k12.wi.us/sites/SafeRoutes/default.aspx
