Urban Safe Routes to Schoola national perspective

mark plotz

Active Living Resource Center

Program History

Before 2005, state and local Safe Routes to School programs, with a few notable exceptions, focused on getting kids walking (as opposed to improving safety.) It was a suburban program.

The City Safe Routes to School pilot program was conceived of in 2005 as a response to the passage of the federal Safe Routes to School program.

Launched in 2006, our goal was threefold: 1) deliver direct technical assistance to urban schools; 2) help them access federal funds; and 3) develop a body of practice and preach from the bully pulpit.

SAFE ROUTES

TO SCHOOL

Program Blueprint

Three year timelinePhase 1: Development and testingChicago, Birmingham, St. Paul

Phase 2: Six city rollout and refinement

Huntsville, Atlanta, Garfield, Hartford, Brooklyn, Blue Island IL

Phase 3: Regional, statewide, and T3St. Petersburg, North Charleston/Charleston SC,

Mobile AL

School profile• Located in an urban environment.• Located in established residential

neighborhoods.• Walking infrastructure is in place but

not necessarily intact.• Personal safety concerns: bullying,

crime, gangs, dogs.• Traffic safety concerns: streets are too

wide, too fast.• Schools are lacking in volunteers or a

champion.• Every day is Walk to School Day.• Most, if not all, students are on

free/reduced lunch.• Young principals or principals nearing

retirement.

Safe Routes paradox

1) There is newly available SRTS money. We have to ensure urban schools have access to the grants. (2006)

2) Where the need is the greatest and the work is the hardest, success will be most elusive. (The public health paradox)

Program Design and Recommendations

• Working through local advocates.• Meeting the people where they

are. Finding a starting point.• Emphasis on storytelling.• Bringing your state coordinator to

the community.• Keeping a small

footprint/sustainability.• Celebrating where you are at.

After three years…

1. The conversation has shifted, but has the funding?

2. How are the states disbursing their funding?3. How do we ensure there is an equitable

distribution of grants?

Active Living Resource Centerwww.activelivingresources.org

Mark PlotzProgram Managermark@bikewalk.org202.223.3621