Safe Routes To School

Lenexa, KS

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Why Safe Routes To School?

1. Fewer kids walk and bike to school

2. Health consequences due to inactivity

3. SRTS programs are part of the solution

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1. Fewer kids are biking and walking. More parents are driving.

1969: 42% walked

2001: 16% walked

(CDC, 2005)

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Parents driving

Parents driving children to school: 20%-25% of morning traffic

(NHTSA 2003; Dept. of Environment)

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It’s not just distance

Students who live within 1 mile and walk or bike:

1969: 87%2001: 63% (CDC, 2005)

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2. Unintended consequences of less walking and bicycling?

For the environment

For individual health

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Air quality

Measurably better around schools with more walkers and bicyclists

(EPA, 2003)

Chicago, IL

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Physical inactivity

Most kids aren’t getting the physical activity they need

Recommended 60 minutes on most, preferably all, days of the week

(US Depts. of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, 2005)

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U.S. youth overweight rates

(National Center for Health Statistics)

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Overweight children have an increased risk of…

Type 2 Diabetes

Low self esteem

Decreased physical functioning

Obesity in adulthood

Many other negative emotional & physical effects

(Institute of Medicine, 2005)

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Good news!

Antigo is taking action on behalf of children through Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Phoenix, AZWinston-Salem, NC Alhambra, CA

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3. Safe Routes to School programs are part of the solution…...to improve

walking and bicycling conditions

...to increase physical activity

...to decrease air pollution

Dallas, TX

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Safe Routes To Schoolin

Antigo

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SRTS Schools in Antigo

West East

Middle North

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SRTS Planning Timeline

•August – Planning Grant Awarded

•October – Planning Started

•November – Walk Audits created

2008:

•Aug/Sept – Community Meetings

•Fall – Develop alternatives

•Fall – Implementation

2009:

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Elements of SRTS programs

Education

Encouragement

Enforcement

Engineering

Evaluation

Lenexa, KS

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Education

Teaches safety skills

Creates safety awareness

Fosters life-long safety habits

Includes parents, neighbors and other drivers

Chicago, IL

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Increases popularity of walking and bicycling

Is an easy way to start SRTS programs

Emphasizes fun

Encouragement

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Enforcement

Increases awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists

Improves driver behavior

Helps children follow traffic rules

Denver, CO

Richmond, VA

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Engineering

Creates safer conditions for walking and bicycling

Can influence the way people behave

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Evaluation

Is the program making a difference?Survey Parents & Students annually.

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Antigo’s SRTS Goals

Where it is safe, get children walking and biking to increase their health.

Improve children’s safety around schools during drop-off and pick-up, so children can walk and bike safely to school.

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Antigo is generally safe. - Theft and violence still happen.

Major roads and neighborhoods need sidewalks throughout Antigo.- Students are walking on the roads now.

School zone crossings may need upgrades.- Crossing Hwy 45 is necessary for Middle School

Antigo Overall…NCWRPC analysis of information

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Parent Survey (Fall 2008)

A survey of parents occurred in Fall of 2008.

How did your child get to school?

What change is needed before you allow child to walk to school?

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Fewer kids are biking and walking. More parents are driving.

Fall 2008 SurveyWalked , Biked

North: 9% , 4%

East: 22% , 2%

Middle: 8% , 2%

West: 22% , 4%

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Parents would allow walking/bikingif issue changed:

Some Top Issues Chg would (not)…affect decision

•Weather/climate 49 (68)%

•Safe intersections 48 (55)%

•Distance 47 (56)%

•Traffic volume along route 41 (64)%

•Traffic speed along route 41 (57)%

•Violence/crime 32 (53)%

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Comments from parent’s survey

Major Themes by Priority

•1 - Sex offenders exist (Mostly West Elementary comments)

•2 - Need more crossing guards

•3 - Will allow to walk in group

•3 – Crossing or walking by Hwy 45 is too dangerous

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Registered sex offenders exist

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Traffic danger

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Walking in groups

Alhambra, CA

Richmond, VA

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Highway 45 / Superior StreetSidewalks are missing or inadequate along Hwy 45.

Dirt paths show that people are walking along Hwy 45

Northbound USH 45, north of fairgrounds Southbound USH 45, north of fairgrounds

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SRTS Walking Audit

What is it?

•Local assessment of walking conditions within ¼ mile of each school.

Why use audits?

•Physically makes people aware of local conditions, and local behaviors.

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Walk Audit Results

Bike racks at each school are:

-Located prominently

-Used by students

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Obstructed Ped-Xing Button

???

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Walk Audit Results

Curb ramps exist on most corners throughout Antigo.

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Walk Audit Results

More visible flashing yellow lights may be needed for Hwy 45.

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Overall student & parent behaviors from Fall 2008 Walk Audit

•Vehicles parked everywhere to pick-up kids.

•Most drivers using reasonable speeds.

•Cars do not slow down as students are in crosswalk.

•Car turning cut off safety patrol.

•Kids run between cars to cross.

•Students crossing Hwy 45 @ 8th instead of @ 7th where crossing guard is located.

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Antigo SRTS

What’s next?