Safe Routes to School Network

Have your mayor or city council officially declare International Walk to School Day, October 5th, or October as Walk to School Month

International Walk to School Day is October 5th, 2011, and Walk to School Month is the entire month of October. You can have your own local Walk to School Day any time during October (or really--any time you like!).

A simple way you can help promote Walk to School Day in your community is by asking your local mayor, city council, county council, or school board to officially declare Walk to School Day by a resolution or proclamation.

Just contact your city council representative or mayor and ask--the following samples make it easy:

Text of sample proclamation:

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Joint use and community use of school facilities in Missouri - What a year of research has shown

Dr. Amy Eyler, Washington University in St. Louis, has done some really exciting research into how schools around Missouri are able to share their facilities with the greater community.  What policies are in place, what are the challenges, how can the Missouri Safe Routes to School Network and individuals around the state help?

Recently Dr. Eyler presented a webinar summarizing her research to the Missouri Safe Routes to School Network. Now you can watch a recording of the webinar at your convenience, or download Dr. Eyler's powerpoint presentation:

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Joint use/community use of public school buildings

Is your community school a community resource?  Can families use school grounds like a neighborhood park?  Do community groups hold performances in the school auditorium? Can community members run on the school track on weekends?

Or is your school like the ones in my community--school grounds locked up tight after hours and posted with "no trespassing" signs?

Schools can be a great community resource and help knit a neighborhood or community together--if school districts are willing to work together with community members and adopt reasonable policies for joint and community use of school facilities.

Taking action on community use of public schools
One of the twelve Action Items of Missouri Safe Routes to School Network is to investigate joint use and community use policies of public schools in Missouri, and see if we can suggest improvements to existing policy and practice for community use of schools across Missouri.

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Missouri's Safe Routes to School funding - where are the projects happening? Who are they reaching?

MoDOT's Safe Routes to School program recently announced funding for 13 grants across Missouri totaling $3.4 million.

Where is that funding going? Is it reaching the communities that need it most?

In the 2011 funding round, Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grants were awarded to these cities, counties, and school districts: Albany, Birch Tree, Bloomfield, Cape Girardeau, Carrollton, Doniphan, Eminence, Hannibal, Holts Summit, Kahoka, Northwoods, Potosi, Russellville, St. James, Marion and Pettis County R-V. More details about the communities and their projects are on the MoDOT web site.

What is MoDOT Safe Routes to School funding used for?

The funding is used to fill in missing sidewalks, crosswalks, trails, bike lanes, safety or warning signs, bike racks, and other infrastructure that helps more students walk to school more often and with greater safety.  A percentage of the funds (10-30%, by federal law) is reserved for programs to encourage and promote bicycling and walking to school and to encourage and teach safe practices.

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St. James: A Safe Routes to School project success story

The St. James Leader-Journal recently covered the city's success in using MoDOT Safe Routes to School and Enhancements grants to improve the health and safety of school students:

“St. James is very, very fortunate. The city just does a great job of writing applications for grants and finding real areas of need,” he said. “And it really comes down to writing a tremendous application. For these grants, you’re competing against schools from across the state.”

At the name suggests, Safe Routes to School grants are awarded to cities or schools that have a real need to make kids’ travel to school safer.

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Organize your own Walk to School Day event - webinar recording with Kara Sergile

Legendary Walk to School Organizer Kara Sergile was galvanized into action when a young student in her community was struck by a car and killed on the way to school.

With a lot of passion and commitment but no money, Kara was able to organize her school's first Walk to School Day in 2009--expanding it into one of the largest Walk to School programs in the state of California in 2010, when 17 schools participated.

June 28th, 2011, Kara presented webinar to Missouri communities and schools interested in organizing a Walk to School Day during Walk to School Month, October 2011.

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Complete Streets: Missouri policies named as among top in the nation

The National Complete Streets Coalition has released a major new analysis of Complete Streets policies across the U.S.--and policies from Missouri are among the top ranking of hundreds of policies evaluated.

Two Missouri Complete Streets policies--from Crystal City and Herculaneum--were listed among the top fifteen policies in the country.  Missouri was one of only two states with two policies listed among the top fifteen.


A rural Complete Street

Complete Streets policies are based on the idea that our streets and our cities need to work for everyone--people who drive, but also those who walk, bicycle, and use transit, the old and the young, the able bodied and those with disabilities.

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MoDOT Safe Routes to School Funding: How it works, how to apply (Deadline April 15th!)

The application period for MoDOT's Safe Routes to School program is open through April 15th, 2011, and John Schaefer of MoDOT, coordinator of the program, recently presented a webinar How to Apply for MoDOT Safe Routes to School Funding.  

The webinar, hosted by the Missouri Safe Routes to School Network, covered these topics:

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Capitol Day: Five good things that happened yesterday because of Capitol Day

Bicycle & Pedestrian Day at the Capitol hasn't even happened yet--and already things are happening because dozens of citizens like you are planning to visit Jefferson City Tuesday.

Because Capitol Day is happening Tuesday, here are five good things that happened yesterday:

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The 10 worst and 10 best for bicycling and walking in Missouri in 2010--what do YOU think?

What are the ten best and ten worst things that have happened for bicycling and walking in Missouri in 2010?

We're compiling a list--and we want to know what YOU think.  What has affected you, for better or for worse, in 2010?

Please leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments section through Wednesday, January 5th.

Just to get things started, here are some possibilities, in no particular order:

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