Safe Routes to Schools Toolkit announced

A free Safe Routes to Schools Toolkit is available for download or as a booklet from the Thunderhead Alliance.

Many school districts around the country have adopted Safe Routes to Schools and the next federal highway funding bill (TEA3) will likely include funding for Safe Routes to Schools programs nationwide. The Missouri Department of Education is planning state-wide training on Safe Routes to Schools late spring or early summer 2003 (MoBikeFed will announce the details as soon as they are available).

The Toolkit was developed by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s (MCBC) Safe Routes to Schools program and is available at their web site: http://www.saferoutestoschools.org.

MCBC’s program increased the number of students walking and biking to schools from 21% to 38% over a two-year time-period. The program also decreased private automobile trips from 62% to 38%.

The Safe Routes to School Toolkit is a step-by-step guidebook for how to get more children walking and biking to schools safely. Produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration free of charge, the Toolkit includes sections on promoting the program, creating safer streets, and integrating curriculum with physical education classes. State and local bicycle advocacy organizations, parents, teachers, school administration and city officials will all find valuable information on how to start and maintain a Safe Routes to School program in their community.

To order a Toolkit contact: the Thunderhead Alliance by emailing Executive Director Sue Knaup, Executive Director: 928-541-9841, sue@thunderheadalliance.org.