Safe Routes to SchoolSafe Routes to School First word is “Safe”First word is “Safe” Physical fitness.Physical fitness. Reduced Reduced

congestion.congestion. Clean air.Clean air. A fun way to get to A fun way to get to

school.school.

The Problem is ObviousThe Problem is ObviousToo Many Private VehiclesToo Many Private Vehicles

School Buses Are Not the Issue: Public Transportation for School

Systems

Too Much CongestionToo Much Congestion

Conflict With Walkers and CyclistsConflict With Walkers and Cyclists

Environmental Consequences

Serious Health Consequences Serious Health Consequences for a New Generation of for a New Generation of

ChildrenChildren

U.S. youth overweight rates U.S. youth overweight rates

(National Center for Health Statistics)(National Center for Health Statistics)

Overweight children have an increased risk of…

Type 2 Diabetes

Low self esteem

Decreased physical functioning

Obesity in adulthood

Many other negative emotional & physical effects

(Institute of Medicine, 2005)

Safe Routes to School:Safe Routes to School:Part of the SolutionPart of the Solution

Getting Kids Outside and Active

BackgroundBackground A federal program A federal program

administered by the N.H. administered by the N.H. Department of Department of Transportation.Transportation.

SAFETEA-LU (Safe, SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Equity Act: A Legacy for Users).Users).

100 percent reimbursement 100 percent reimbursement for local projects.for local projects.

$1 million dollars per year $1 million dollars per year for five years for New for five years for New Hampshire.Hampshire.

SRTS Task ForceSRTS Task Force

Identify barriers and Identify barriers and craft solutions. craft solutions.

Develop broad Develop broad community support community support and involvement.and involvement.

Schools, Schools, municipality, municipality, parents, children, parents, children, organizations.organizations.

The 5EsThe 5Es

Evaluation Evaluation EducationEducation EncouragementEncouragement EnforcementEnforcement EngineeringEngineering

Non-infrastructureNon-infrastructure

SurveysSurveys Pedestrian and Pedestrian and

bicycling safety bicycling safety educationeducation

Escort programsEscort programs Motorist education Motorist education

and enforcementand enforcement

EvaluationEvaluation What are the reasons that What are the reasons that

children in a specific children in a specific community are not walking community are not walking or pedaling?or pedaling?

In-class and parental In-class and parental surveys.surveys.

First step. Repeated to First step. Repeated to determine effectiveness of determine effectiveness of program.program.

New Web-based data input New Web-based data input system makes it easier. system makes it easier.

Walkability and bikeability Walkability and bikeability observationsobservations..

New Hampshire WintersNew Hampshire WintersAre Tough on InfrastructureAre Tough on Infrastructure

Even Good Sidewalk Networks Can Need Repairs

EducationEducation

How do children develop the skills to safely How do children develop the skills to safely navigate their home neighborhoods?navigate their home neighborhoods?

Training in pedestrian and pedestrian safety.Training in pedestrian and pedestrian safety. Younger children need to learn to look left, Younger children need to learn to look left,

look right, look left. look right, look left. Teach young cyclists the “rules of the road” Teach young cyclists the “rules of the road”

before they take driver’s education. before they take driver’s education. Bike rodeos by local police or instructional Bike rodeos by local police or instructional

program by cycling organizations.program by cycling organizations.

EncouragementEncouragement School and community School and community

programs to support programs to support walking and bike riding.walking and bike riding.

School assemblies and School assemblies and pep rallies.pep rallies.

Escort programs: Escort programs: walking school bus and walking school bus and rolling bike train.rolling bike train.

Walking and riding clubs Walking and riding clubs with small rewards.with small rewards.

School AssembliesSchool Assemblies

Safety in numbers as we take back our streets

Escort ProgramsEscort ProgramsWalking School Bus

Rolling Bike Train

Adult Supervision = SafetyAdult Supervision = Safety

EnforcementEnforcement

Role of local Role of local police is police is essential.essential.

Speeding Speeding motorists.motorists.

Failure to stop in Failure to stop in crosswalks.crosswalks.

Key safety Key safety accessory: the accessory: the view of a blue view of a blue light in the rear-light in the rear-view mirror.view mirror.

InfrastructureInfrastructure

Physical changes to Physical changes to encourage walking encourage walking and bikingand biking

SidewalksSidewalks Bike routes and bike Bike routes and bike

pathspaths Signs, signals and Signs, signals and

stripes stripes

SidewalksSidewalks

A Safe Route All the Way to School

Bike Paths and Shared RoutesBike Paths and Shared RoutesSeparate from TrafficSeparate from Traffic

Full Bike RacksFull Bike RacksA Sure Sign of SuccessA Sure Sign of Success

Competitive FundingCompetitive Funding

Effective community planning leading to Effective community planning leading to comprehensive travel plan.comprehensive travel plan.

Task force with wide representation.Task force with wide representation. Application must document the home-to-Application must document the home-to-

school connection. school connection. Cost-effective.Cost-effective. Creative solutions.Creative solutions. Special consideration for communities with Special consideration for communities with

limited resources.limited resources.

Arriving SafelyArriving Safely

Alert and Ready to Learn