INTRODUCTION:  What does "Safe Routes to School" mean?

The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) movement is working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy active transportation to and from school.  Walking or biking to school helps to keep waistlines trim and to minimize air pollution, especially around schools.  It also gives kids a chance to talk and play before and after school.  Unfortunately, in many areas it is not safe for kids to walk to school.  Many communities don't have sidewalks, crosswalks, or crossing guards.  Other areas require students to walk through parking lots or light industrial areas.  Still other areas aren't safe to walk due to crime.

The SR2S movement is changing all of that, one community at a time.  SR2S brings together many different groups of people--kids, parents, teachers, public health workers, planners, transit workers, and others--to work together on a movement that ties together many issues, such as safety, transportation, public health, and community building.

SR2S can mean walking or biking from home to school, and from school to home.  It can also mean walking or biking to your bus stop.  It can mean organizing a "walking school bus," or it can mean working with community leaders to build and maintain a network of sidewalks and crosswalks.  The sky is the limit!

SR2S AT HOME, IN ITHACA, NY

The SR2S movement has no president and no charter.  Anyone can be a part of it!  In fact, there are Ithaca citiizens already hard at work, on their own, to ensure that our children can enjoy active transportation to and from school.

In November of 2005, CYC's Jan Zeserson interviewed Rosanne Moresco, a physical education instructor at Cayuga Heights Elementary Schoo, and the coordinator of the school's "Healthy Steps" program.  Enjoy Rosanne's interview here.

Who will be the next Ithaca resident to hop onto the walking school bus movement?  Will it be you?  Contact the CYC if you'd like ideas on how to get involved.

OTHER FEATURED COMMUNITIES

The Eugene & Springfield (Oregon) school districts are providing free bus passes for all middle and high school students.  Lisa VanWinkle, the coordinator for the Smart Ways to School program, says, "We hope this program encourages more middle and high school students to take a bus instead of traveling by car...  It’s a great way for students to be more independent while saving money spent on fuel and vehicle maintenance. And while riding the bus, students can enjoy time to talk with friends, read, or relax.”  The district also completed a survey to judge attitudes about school transportation among students and parents.  For more information, see:
http://www.ltd.org/sws/news.htm

STARTING YOUR OWN SR2S PROGRAM

Do you think your community needs a Safe Routes to School Program?  The Rochester Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) held a workshop in June of 2005, which led participants through the various ways to join the SR2S movement.  The Rochester MPO's website includes summaries of the presentations given by Mark Fenton and Dennis Sellin at this workshop, along with the materials that were provided:
http://www.gtcmpo.org/sr2s.htm

SR2S RESOURCES

• The U.S.A. website for International Walk to School Week also promotes safe walking and biking to school all year.
  http://www.walktoschool.org/
• This article, from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, briefly outlines the development of the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) movement, and details ways in which the transportation professional can and should get involved.
  Transportation Officials Get Involved With Safe Routes to School
• New York State Partnership for Walk Our Children to School
  www.nyswalks.org
• Back to School - CDC Encourages Communities to Create Safer Routes to School
  http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/t020815.htm
• Safe Routes to School.org
  http://www.saferoutestoschools.org/
• Walking School Bus!
  http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/
• Safe Routes to School website, from the Federal Highway Administration
  http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/
• Also from the Federal Highway Administration, the "much awaited" Program Guidance for the Federal Safe Routes to School program
  http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/srtsguidance.htm
• The U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Highway Administration
  awarded the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
  (HSRC) $6 million over five years to establish the National Safe Routes to
  School (SRTS) Clearinghouse.
  http://www.saferoutesinfo.org