FAQs

 

1. What is Safe Routes to School (SRTS)?

It’s simply a program to get our kids back on track. An international movement and federal program created to make it safe, easy and appealing for children to walk and bicycle to school. To reach its goal, SRTS helps school and community leaders plan, develop and implement projects that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution near schools.
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2. What is the thinking behind SRTS?

While most of today’s parents walked or biked to elementary school when they were school age, today’s children are driven to nearly all of their activities, and only a small percentage walk to school each day. As a result, today’s kids are less fit and childhood obesity and other serious health problems are on the rise. A Safe Routes to School program focuses on combating the issues responsible for the decline in children walking and bicycling to school.
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3. Why don’t children walk or bike to school like they used to?

The three main reasons for the decline are community design, safety, and time and convenience. Many of today’s newer neighborhoods are not pedestrian-friendly, often designed without sidewalks or safe crossings. Areas with high traffic volumes and speeds cause concern for children’s safety. And parents’ fear of child abductions and other crimes is also a factor. Finally, for busy parents, it’s often more convenient to drop their children off at school on their way to work.
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4. What are the benefits of an SRTS program?

Walking or biking to school is an easy way to get the regular physical activity children need for good health. Studies show physically active kids concentrate better and have more self-confidence. They also have fewer chronic health problems. In addition, when more children walk or bike to school, traffic and gas consumption are reduced. What’s more, walking or biking to school is a fun way to explore our communities and natural world.
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5. How does the program work?

Schools that choose to participate form their own teams consisting of school administrators, municipal officials, teachers, parents, student leaders, law enforcement officers and other community members. For a successful program, teams have two primary responsibilities. One of the key responsibilities of a team is to engage and encourage youth by celebrating Walk to School Day and establishing fun walking and biking activities and programs. Additionally, teams are responsible for assessing the physical environment around their school and the attitudes of parents and students to form recommendations and create action plans for making improvements. The teams may also perform a “walking audit.”
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6. What is a “walking audit”?

Usually held during school arrival and dismissal times, a walking audit is simply a walking tour of a school property and adjacent neighborhoods to look for routes students can safely use to get to school. This gives teams first-hand looks at existing safety problems.
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7. Who is in charge of the program?

Each school may choose how to manage its own SRTS program. School principals and administrators generally have the final word on program policies, but team members – from the school or community -- may be chosen to lead the program.
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8. How much will a Safe Routes to School program cost the school or district?

Apart from time commitments, the education and encouragement component costs of an SRTS program are usually minimal. Most of the costs involve printing and copying educational and marketing materials, along with purchasing refreshments for special program events. However, engineering and infrastructure changes are often more costly. Funding sources are available to support SRTS efforts. Visit the PA Grants page for specific SRTS funding opportunities.
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9. What is a “walking school bus”?

A group of children walking together to school with one or more adults. As the “bus” moves through a route, it makes several “bus stops,” picking up additional children on the way to school.
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10. What is “traffic calming”?

Speed bumps or humps, street narrowing, traffic circles and raised pedestrian crosswalks are all examples of traffic calming. They offer physical ways to reduce traffic speeds or cut-through volumes in areas near schools.
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11. How can I start an SRTS program at my school?

For information on beginning an SRTS program at your school, please view our online training module or contact Robyn Ricketts with the Safe Routes to School Academy at 717.531.1440 x3, or via email at rricketts@psu.edu.
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