Session 13 - SRTS/CS Low-Income Pedroso
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Transcript of Session 13 - SRTS/CS Low-Income Pedroso
Safe Routes to School and
Complete Streets: Partnerships for Low-Income
Communities
Margo Pedroso, Deputy Director
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
The numbers
Poverty line is $22,000 for a family of 4; low-income is twice that
40 million people (13.2%) live in poverty
41% of children (29.9 million children) are from low-income families
Half of children in rural areas are low-income and half of children in urban areas are low-income
Income and Transportation
Low-income families spend one-third of their budgets on transportation and have lower rates of car ownership
Children from low-income families are twice as likely to walk to school as children from higher-income families
Walking and Bicycling in Low-Income Communities
Low-income neighborhoods or communities have greater traffic-related risks
Urban challenges include higher numbers of busy through streets and poor pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure
In rural areas, distances are greater, high-speed state highways often bisect communities, and sidewalks/crosswalks are lacking
These built environment challenges impact health and safety:
Children from low-income households have a higher risk of being injured or killed as pedestrians
Residents in low-income communities have lower activity levels and higher BMIs
In spite of the risks:
Walking and Bicycling in Low-Income Communities
Personal Safety: Crime and Violence
19% of students in one study feared being attacked while walking and bicycling to school
Children are 5 times more likely to walk and bicycle to school when safety is not a primary concern for parents
Community Readiness: Awareness and Attitudes
Walking and bicycling is not always commonplace or familiar in some communities and cultures; messages must be culturally sensitive
Parents who perceive physical activity as important to health who walk regularly themselves are more likely to have their children walk or bicycle to school
Challenges to Walking and Bicycling in Low-Income Communities
Traffic Safety and Shortage of Professional Expertise
Low-income neighborhoods have greater traffic- related risks
Children from low-income families are more likely to be injured or killed while walking.
But – low-income communities have less access to planners and engineers
This limits the ability to apply for and implement transportation projects to improve safety
Limited Parental Involvement
Many SRTS programs rely on parent volunteers, but in low-income communities, parents can be hard to engage due to language barriers, lack of free time, and a lack of connection to the school
51 percent of low-income parents say they have jobs that prevent them from becoming involved in school activities
Challenges to Walking and Bicycling in Low-
Income Communities
New resource guide attempts to fill that gap
Called “Implementing Safe Routes to School in Low-Income Schools and Communities”
Available at http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/lowincomeguide
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association
SRTS and Low-Income Communities
Moving Forward
Solving these challenges takes partnerships
The potential benefits to low-income communities from SRTS and Complete Streets are great
But, these are big challenges that require many partners to solve
It’s important for us all to ensure that low-income communities are able to safely walk and bicycle
Hope that more nonprofits, DOTs, MPOs, school districts, and community leaders offer assistance to low-income schools and communities
For More Information
Questions or comments? Contact:
Margo Pedroso
Deputy Director
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
301-292-1043
Go to www.saferoutespartnership.org and sign up for our e-news!