What is Safe Routes to School?
The Safe Routes to School movement is a response to the drastic reduction in the numbers of children who use active transportation to get to school. Columbia's best known Safe Routes to School activity is our Walking School Bus program.
According to Safe Routes to School National Partnership, in 1969, approximately 50% of children walked or biked to school, and 87% of children living within one mile of school did. Today, fewer than 15% of schoolchildren walk or bike to school. As a result, kids today are less active, less independent, and less healthy. As much as 20 to 30% of morning traffic is generated by parents driving their children to schools, and traffic-related crashes are the top cause of death and major injury for children in the U.S. ages 1 to 17.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is a privately funded, advocacy based network of non-profit organizations, schools, governments, and business entities. The SRTSNP works to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide educational materials to agencies that implement Safe Routes to School programs. The Partnership includes such partner affiliates as the AARP, the American Heart Association, the PTA, and Active Living by Design.
Established in May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. They administer the $600 million in federal funding that has been given to states to distribute in small grants.
Safe Routes to School works to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school. The goal of Safe Routes to School is to get more children bicycling and walking to schools on an everyday basis. This improves community and personal health, benefits the environment, increases safety, and helps to decrease traffic congestion around schools.
PedNet's Safe Routes to School Program
- Walk to School Days
Special days designated for students to walk to school with parents, teachers and friends. - Walking School Bus (WSB) overview
A summary of the WSB and a listing of participating schools - Walking School Bus FAQs
Answers your questions about what a WSB is and how it can benefit your family - Walking School Bus online registration
Sign up now for you family to participate in the WSB - Volunteer as a Walking School Bus leader
Answers to your questions and an online registration form.
For more information email us or call the WSB Team at (573) 239-9902.
