Safe Routes Matters, March/April 2008

What is a Walking School Bus?

A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a planned route with meeting points, a timetable and a schedule of trained volunteers. Read more in the SRTS Guide.

In this Issue:

Walking school buses featured in Fitness Magazine

Make sure to check out the April issue of Fitness Magazine, which features walking school buses and the National Center's Web site, http://www.saferoutesinfo.org. Within the Fit Families section, the magazine includes a Family Fitness Makeover feature with age-by-age activity ideas. For children 6-to-8 years old, the magazine encourages families to create a walking school bus to get fit and help the environment by organizing groups of kids and parents who walk or ride bikes to school together.

Fitness Magazine was among the national media outlets contacted by the Center earlier this year in a media relations campaign to increase promotion of Safe Routes to School at the national level. The Center continues to conduct targeted media relations to market the program to trade and consumer media outlets.

New resources available to local programs for evaluating Safe Routes to School programs

The National Center for Safe Routes to School has released new resources to assist local communities in evaluating their Safe Routes to School programs. The Center has launched the Evaluation section within the SRTS Guide available at www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/evaluation.

The new section includes a step-by-step process for conducting an evaluation with an accompanying worksheet for program implementers to organize their program information for each step. It also reviews the benefits of evaluation and how the timing of evaluation corresponds to the life of a SRTS program.

Readers are also given an overview of commonly used ways to collect data, including the standardized data collection forms developed by the Center in 2007. The Student Travel Tally is used to identify frequency of various transportation modes for travel to school. The Parent Survey, also available in a Spanish-language version, measures parent attitudes that may influence whether children are allowed to walk or bicycle to school.

Using these forms, programs can either enter their own data into the Center's Web-based data entry system available at www.saferoutesinfo.org/tracking or send completed data collection forms to the Center for processing. Using this information, programs are able to generate reports about their SRTS activities. The Center will also be able to establish baseline information from which program elements will be evaluated.

These new resources are a component of a comprehensive national research program launched by the Center to determine the impact of Safe Routes to School programs. The research program will result in the collection of nationwide SRTS-related data and the identification of effective SRTS strategies.

Additional elements of the Center's research program include:

  • NCSRTS Tracking Reports: The National Center releases quarterly SRTS Program Tracking Briefs to provide information about State SRTS programs. To access the reports, please visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/tracking-reports.cfm.
  • SRTS Strategy Evaluation: To support responsible use of resources and strategies that will improve walking and bicycling conditions or encourage use of existing facilities, NCSRTS will select specific SRTS strategies for evaluation. The Center will identify specific strategies for evaluation using both an expert panel and information from the Tracking Database. The expert panel may also decide to identify effective strategies for reaching specific populations such as those served by tribal schools or low income communities.
  • Safety Index Development: Engineers and other local transportation professionals have requested a tool to assist with the identification and prioritization of infrastructure improvement needs along school routes. NCSRTS will oversee a technical expert group in the review of existing instruments, testing and final development of a safety index to meet this need.
  • Safety Monitoring Program: Understanding safety outcomes is an important element of evaluating the SRTS program. NCSRTS will capitalize on the emerging opportunity to use a comprehensive database of exposure data, local program details, large-scale state and national crash databases, and advanced analytical techniques, to develop and implement a process to monitor, document, and measure potential safety outcomes from SRTS programs.

Center continues to offer free SRTS Webinars

The National Center for Safe Routes to School continues to offer free SRTS-related Webinars through its partnership with America Walks. The next topic in the Webinar series will be:

"Who Cares About Safe Routes? How to Make the Case in Your Community"
Presented by Kit Keller and Linda Tracy, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
April 29, 2008 at 2PM EST

To register for the Webinar, please visit www.americawalks.org/Content/10108/
Webinar_April_29_2008.html.

During the hour-long Webinar, Keller and Tracy will present tips for engaging local professionals and organizations for help in planning and implementing a Safe Routes to School program. Many times these individuals are already engaged in the issues surrounding Safe Routes to School, but simply call it by another name.

The video and audio of the March Webinar, "Starting a SRTS Program with Zero Funds" presented by Ian Thomas, is archived and available at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/training/can_webinars.cfm.

The Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinars are designed to educate individuals and organizations on topics that will assist with successful outreach efforts. The Network will also offer Webinar participants the option to receive a coaching session from America Walks for assistance with their local outreach efforts. By offering follow-up coaching and education, the Network aims to increase the priority of and resources dedicated towards improving Safe Routes to School efforts. For more information on the Webinar series, please visit www.americawalks.org/Content/10082/Safe_Routes_CAN_Presentation_Schedule.html.

Survey of Walk to School event organizers points to growth of SRTS

The National Center has released the 2007 Walk to School Event Organizer Survey Findings and Recommendations. The report provides a brief background on Walk to School events in the U.S. and summarizes findings from a survey conducted of Walk to School event organizers. The report also contains recommended actions that would likely strengthen future events and increase capacity and demand for SRTS programs.

The survey, based on responses from 582 Walk to School event organizers, provides insight as to the growth of SRTS programs. A few highlights from the report include:

  • In 2007, 2,755 events were registered on the Walk to School web site (www.walktoschool.org), representing a sizable increase of 35% from 2006 (2,044 registered events).
  • Survey results show an increase in the proportion of schools currently implementing SRTS programs (27%) compared to 2006 (22%) or 2005 (17%).
  • There was also an increase in the proportion of schools that plan to begin a program in the next six months (14%) compared to 2006 and 2005 (9% each year).
  • At the same time, the 2007 survey results indicated a considerable decrease in the proportion of respondents that have not heard of SRTS programs (6%) compared to 2004 (34%), 2005 (34%) and 2006 (17%).
  • When given a list of potential motivators for holding an event and asked to pick the one primary motivator, the three most commonly selected responses (in order) were: (1) to promote physical activity and prevent obesity; (2) pedestrian safety; and (3) support for a SRTS Program.
  • 62% of respondents indicated that some type of environmental or policy change has occurred, or is planned, as a result of their Walk to School event. The most common environmental changes were: increased traffic enforcement near school and the addition of sidewalks, paths or crosswalks.

To read the full report, please visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/online_library/details.cfm?id=4133.

Safe Routes Snapshots: Columbia, SC

Safe Routes Snapshots provides a brief profile of a Safe Routes to School state or local program that highlights a particular success or issue the program faced. To submit your program for Safe Routes Snapshots, please email news@saferoutesinfo.org.

Background

Rosewood Elementary School in Columbia, SC, has approximately 400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In 2006, a Rosewood Elementary teacher, who also is a parent, noticed on her morning walks to school with her daughter that cars were driving too fast in front of the school. Wanting to slow down traffic, the teacher sent out a request for ideas to parents and school faculty members. The teacher was informed of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) movement, and with help from a SRTS planning committee, she worked to develop and implement SRTS activities at Rosewood Elementary.

Details

In October 2007, Rosewood Elementary received a $200,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). Recognizing the need to work collaboratively to decide how to spend the funds effectively, a committee was established of parents, teachers, members from the school administration and the school nurse. Together, the committee has been designing and implementing a comprehensive SRTS program encompassing each of the five E's: education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement and evaluation.

The committee sends fliers with safety information to the students' homes and makes informative announcements over the school's public address system to help educate students and parents on safety. There are preliminary plans to hold bicycle workshops in fall 2008 to teach students about bicycle safety procedures and equipment. The committee also is incorporating bicycle and pedestrian safety information into the classroom activities. To promote and encourage walking, Rosewood Elementary organized an International Walk to School Day on Oct. 3, 2007. The majority of the school's students participated in a parade, which began at a designated location several blocks away from the school and ended at Rosewood Elementary.

The committee is researching ways that will improve the flow of traffic during pick-up and drop-off times, including collaborating with a traffic engineer to create a construction plan for sidewalk improvements, crosswalks striping and school zone signage. As for enforcement, in 2006, law enforcement officers increased their patrolling of the streets surrounding the school after parents informed them of their concerns regarding speeding cars.

The school also plans to survey the parents and students to gather their opinions on the SRTS program throughout the various stages of implementation. In addition, parents will be asked about the barriers of walking to school and how these barriers should be addressed. Teachers also will contribute to the evaluation efforts by conducting in-class tallies to measure the different modes in which the students travel to and from school.

Results

Rosewood Elementary has succeeded in its early SRTS efforts, even garnering local television media attention with a news story about its SRTS program in January 2008. Based upon parent reports, the increased patrolling of the streets surrounding Rosewood Elementary has slowed traffic. Parents report that while driving, they are more aware of oncoming bicyclists and pedestrians. Pieces of the SRTS program, such as Walking Fridays, already are implemented and the students' excitement to walk to school has increased. The committee will submit its final plan to the SCDOT in the next few months with the goal of implementing other pieces of their SRTS program in fall 2008.

To access the full case study, please visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/case_studies/pdfs/SC.columbia.pdf

Featured Resource: Parent Survey

The National Center for Safe Routes to School offers SRTS programs a downloadable parent survey to assist in the evaluation of their program activities. This survey asks for information about what factors affect whether parents allow their children to walk or bike to school, the presence of key safety-related conditions along routes to school and related background information. The survey results will help determine how to improve opportunities for children to walk or bike to school, and measure parental attitude changes as local SRTS programs occur.

To access the resource, which is also available in a Spanish-language version, please visit http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/evaluation_parent-survey.cfm.

News Brief

New resources for media outreach

Safe Routes to School programs now have a new resource to help promote walking and bicycling for children. The National Center for Safe Routes to School has launched the Media and Visibility module within the SRTS Guide at www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/media.

The new module, which expands the already comprehensive Web-based SRTS manual, offers programs guidance and tools for expanding their media outreach. The module offers the basics of working with the news media, tips for conducting interviews, ideas for securing program spokespeople and guidance on increasing the newsworthiness of an SRTS program.

The Safe Routes to School Guide is a comprehensive online reference manual designed to support communities in developing and expanding their programs. Readers of the Guide can pick and choose specific topics based on their interests and needs, such as guidelines for adult school crossing guards or tools to create school route maps.

STA Safe Routes to School Program Logo

Solano Transportation Authority Board approves SRTS plan

In February 2008, the Solano Transportation Authority Board in Suisun City, California, approved a countywide Safe Routes to School plan and approved the creation of a $240,000 pilot funding program.

The STA's SRTS plan process included over 100 different committee members and over 450 different parents, teachers, students, and neighbors at 29 schools across the county. Each city developed a local SRTS adopted by each city's council and school board. These local plans are incorporated into the STA's countywide SRTS plan. The STA's SRTS program's goal is to improve student travel safety and increase the popularity of students walking and bicycling to school.

To access the plan and more information on the STA's SRTS plan, please visit www.solanolinks.com/sr2s.html.

Thank you, Risa!

The National Center for Safe Routes to School would like to recognize and congratulate Risa Wilkerson for her continued contribution to Safe Routes to School. As the Vice President of Active Communities with the Michigan Fitness Foundation, Wilkerson led the local host efforts for the 1st Safe Routes to School National Conference held in Dearborn, MI in November 2007.

Wilkerson has recently accepted a project officer position with Active Living by Design, a national program established by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and part of the UNC School of Public Health.

The Michigan Fitness Foundation is now seeking qualified candidates for the position of Vice President of Active Communities, which will lead program/project teams related to a statewide effort to create active community environments. For more information, please contact Marilyn Lieber at the Michigan Fitness Foundation at 1-800-434-8642 or by email at mlieber@michiganfitness.org.

SRTS in the News

The following is a brief compilation of Safe Routes to School-related news stories from across the country. Web links to the following news stories are time sensitive, so some stories may not be accessible after the initial publication date or may require registration.

Sidewalks to somewhere
KLEW-TV
3/27/2008
Safe Routes to School: A Great Way to Get Youth with and without Disabilities More Active
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
3/14/2008
U.S. plan promotes kids' walking, biking
Chicago Tribune
3/7/2008
Walk This Way
School Planning & Management Magazine
February 2008
District Making Big Changes to Improve Safety for Students
WLNS-TV
2/29/2008
New Round of Grants Gives $1.3 Million to 20 Schools
Salem News
2/20/2008
Take steps so that kids walk, bike to school
The Columbus Dispatch
2/15/2008
Program gives students exercise and Safe Routes to School
Bay City Times
2/8/2008
Safe Routes to School
CBS 21
2/7/2008
Sure Routes to Funding
Public Works Magazine
January 2008
Going the distance: Group encourages students to walk, bike
The Missoulian
1/31/2008

For more news stories relating to Safe Routes to School, please visit the NCSRTS News Room at www.saferoutesinfo.org/news_room/

Safe Routes Matters is a free, online publication of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. No permission is needed to reprint from articles, but attribution is requested. To submit article ideas to Safe Routes Matters, please email news@saferoutesinfo.org.