The Safe Routes Partnership and the YMCA of the USA recently released Making Strides: 2016 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, Active Kids and Communities. These report cards have an entire section devoted to state funding for Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking that provides important information for advocates.
Key Takeaway: Driver compliance with a state law to yield to pedestrians was highest at crosswalks with more safety features.
What do the US, Mexico, Japan, Italy, Columbia, Australia, Fiji and Nigeria have in common?
If you answered – Walk to School Month – you’re right! At least 42 countries have registered to participate in international promotions to get more kids moving. The official US Walk to School Day is being promoted for Wednesday, October 5, 2011, but we know that schools are organizing events all month long, and many participating schools use the event to propel a cultural and infrastructure shift for how we get around.
As I write this I am sitting on an Amtrak train from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR after leading a technical assistance presentation and workshop for the local CPPW grantees (Communities Putting Prevention to Work, a CDC-funded policy and program effort).
It is an exciting time of new beginnings and opportunity - the beginning of my role as network director, a new blog and a huge expansion of the Safe Routes Partnership.
When I was about eight years old I decided to start a lemonade stand. My stand, which was rudimentary in design, included the front steps of my house, a pitcher of watered down lemonade and no cups.
March has been quite a month for Congressional action on the transportation bill. Unfortunately, it is looking like the momentum will have a tough time carrying over into April.
In 2008 and 2009 we managed a Safe Routes to School project at five lower income schools around the country, launching and growing Safe Routes to School programs in those five schools for two years.
Both the House and Senate have decided to get down to business on a transportation bill.
Our work to expand the region’s Active Transportation program at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is progressing.
We love it when Safe Routes to School volunteers and champions share what is happening in their community with us!
The Indiana Safe Routes to School program is alive and well! Having completed six application rounds since its inception in 2006, there are now 114 infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure activities that have been awarded funding in the Hoosier State. For a map of Indiana’s Safe Routes to School awards click here.
Safe Routes to School is about walking and bicycling to school and in communities. The Safe Routes to School momentum spreads to players at all levels. There are only three communities with designated Safe Routes to School coordinators in the Greater Washington, DC region.
Since 2017, the Safe Routes Partnership has partnered with community-based organizations, government agencies, and other national partners to improve local park access via walking and biking. In those seven years, we have shown that there is significant demand to unlock the full potential of neighborhood parks for health and community building by activating the routes to them. Along the way, this movement has highlighted the power of engaging parks and recreation stakeholders in creating safer, more equitable streets, ensuring that parks are integral to connected, thriving communities.
This week, Congress is voting on a new two-year transportation bill, called MAP-21, that will make significant changes to federal transportation policy that negatively impact bicycling and walking programs. Please see our joint statement with the America Bikes coalition for information on the
Since Congress released their new MAP-21 Transportation Bill two weeks ago, which eliminated dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School and leaves most of the decision making for active transportation up to states and locals, people have been asking me “what’s next?”
On May 17, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved the One Bay Area Grant program to provide $800 million more than four years to cities and counties for transportation projects.
I have been thinking a lot about how we can ensure Safe Routes to School, walking and bicycling can continue to flourish around the country in our new “MAP-21” world without dedicated funding. So I’ve pulled together a “top 10” list for how Safe Routes to School can survive and thrive.
It is back to school time in North Carolina and time for an IF/THEN deductive reasoning lesson that will make a difference for all moms, dads and kids heading back to school. Here are three important IF’s and THEN’s