Safe Routes to School Program

THE NATIONAL SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

Presentation bythe

3 Rivers Bicycle Coalition

Safe Routes to School Program

Who We Are and Our Goal Today

To educate the board about the Safe Routes to

School Program

Washington Bikes

Safe Routes to School Program

5-14 years: living any distance

K-8, living within 1 mile0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

48%

89%

13%

35%

Students Walking or Cycling to School

19692009

The Decline of Walking and Bicycling

Source: xxxx

Safe Routes to School Program

Barriers to Walking and Bicycling

0%

20%

40%

60%62%

30%19% 12% 6%

15%

Source: xxxx

Safe Routes to School Program

Benefits of Education on Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Include…

Pre-driving age children face the greatest likely-hood of injury while walking and bicycling. or death Education programs save lives: they have been proven to reduce accidents, injury and death by 85%. Education on bicycle/pedestrian safety make for more effective cyclists and pedestrians as well as safer and more informed drivers.

Source(s): need input from Damion

Safe Routes to School Program

Benefits of Having Our Kids Walk and Cycle to School are

many including… Improved Physical Health! Improved Community Skills! Improved Environmental Health

and Overall Safety! Improved Positive Life-long Habits

Safe Routes to School Program

The National Safe Routes to School (SRtS) Program

A locally controlled program supported with funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to:

Encourage a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and

facilitate the planning that will improve safety in the vicinity (approximately 2 miles) of primary and middle schools (Grades K-8).

Safe Routes to School Program

Safe Routes to School…a collaborative effort…

“…a two day training session conducted by Washington Bikes (a non-profit state-wide bicycle advocacy organization)

Provides framework of knowledge to later be shared with students for safe and healthy cycling and walking.

Benefits last for a lifetime!

Safe Routes to School Program

Benefits to the District

Successful applicants receive: (needs checking by Seth)

Training (Continuing Education Credits) for 5-8 grade P.E. teachers to facilitate programs as part of the districts P.E. curriculum.

Fleet of new bicycles and helmets. Trailer to safely secure and transport

bicycles. Resources to effectively run and

maintain the SRtS program.

Picture from National Center for Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School Program

Costs and Commitments for Participation (needs checking by Seth)

Resources for Successful Applicants Grant funding is available to provide the training free of charge to the

school district (normally, it is about $5000). ‘Washington Bikes’ provide curriculum’s for the participants and

teaching aids. Reimbursement for the costs of the substitute teachers when the PE

teachers are getting trained. For selected district: funding for a fleet of bikes (to teach the

curriculum) in the following school year (from WSDOT). Commitments by District:

a commitment to teach the program during the 2013-2014 school year An intention to teach the program into the future. conducting evaluation surveys before and after teaching the program

each time.  

Safe Routes to School Program

Next steps…??

Contact information for additional information: need info from Seth

Applications are due: need info from Seth

Questions? Comments?

Safe Routes to School Program

Thank you!

Picture from Wabikes.org