Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School is a national program designed to make it safe, fun and convenient to walk or bicycle to and from school. A generation ago, approximately half of all school-age children walked or biked to school. Today, only about 15% of children do so. Concerned by the health and traffic implications of this decline, Congress provided a total of $612 million in federal funding in 2005 for all State Departments of Transportation to develop Safe Routes to School programs. The funding will be used through 2009 to launch education campaigns and to make capital improvements such as building new sidewalks, bike lanes and pathways in communities.

A primary goal of the project is to reach children at highest risk for obesity. Eight states, including Louisiana, were selected based on both need and their capacity to support the program. The SRTS National Partnership considered the number and percentage of overweight and obese children within the state, as well as the number and percentage of minority children in low-income families. Other criteria included the state’s ability to leverage strategic partnerships, and make a national impact.

The State Network Project will inform and educate the general public about Safe Routes to School and share information about lessons learned from the initiative. The project will create a Guide to Developing a Successful Safe Routes to School State Network so other states can initiate their own programs. At the local level, each State Network will identify and provide technical assistance to a low-income community or school. In Illinois and Louisiana, the State Networks also will collaborate with Food Trust programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Food Trust is a Philadelphia-based advocacy organization that has convinced local corner stores to stock healthier products and helped bring supermarkets back to underserved neighborhoods.

Safe Routes to School is a cost-effective tool with the potential to increase physical activity, reduce obesity, improve neighborhoods and inspire children and their parents to live an active lifestyle. Since 2000, the program has been successful in communities such as Marin County, Calif., Arlington, Mass., and Portland, Ore.

Safe Routes to School National Partnership
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is a fast-growing network of more than 260 organizations and professional groups working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding and inform agencies that implement SRTS. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s mission is to serve a diverse national community of organizations that advocates for and promotes the practice of safe bicycling and walking to and from schools throughout the United States. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee comprised of organizations and agencies that have been developing SRTS programs and initiatives at local, state and national levels. Partner affiliates utilize their communication channels to spread the word about SRTS opportunities, news, challenges and collaborations. For more information, visit www.saferoutespartnership.org.