Safe Routes to School
Photo courtesy of Safe Routes to School National Partnership
About
Safe Routes to Schools is a federal program that focuses on making it safer and easier for children to walk and bike to school. The purpose is to address the lack of physical activity by changing policy and infrastructure while coordinating engaging educational and encouragement activities to get kids walking and biking. Successful SRTS programs bring together key stakeholders such as parents, teachers, students, adminstrators, elected officials, public safety officials and advocates in order to get kids active while improving the built environment around schools. SRTS programs result is healthier children, safer streets, less congestion, and better air quality in proximity to schools.
Photo courtesy of Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Allegheny County Health Department recently partnered with BikePGH to launch two SRTS pilot program in local schools. After assessing seven county schools, Crafton Elementary School and Arsenal Middle School were selected to take part in the pilot program. This doesn’t mean that you can’t start a SRTS program at your own school. We have a lot of resources that we are happy to share with you, and can help you pull together your own SRTS committee, and get you on your way to getting more students biking and walking to school. Simply email us at info@bikepgh.org or call us at 412.325.4334 to learn more.
Resources
- Allegheny County Health Department’s Safe & Healthy Communities Education Program
- Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s Resource Center
- National Learning Network - Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School – Info on how to patch in to the Statewide network and how to obtain statewide resources for educational activities at your school
- Pennsylvania Safe Routes Resource Center – The State of PA sponsored clearinghouse on all info needed to start and maintain a SRTS program at your school
Funding
June 28, 2013 is the next deadline for non-infrastructure grants. Please apply!
Events
October 3, 2012 was National Walk or Roll to School Day. We look forward to the next one.