Safe Routes to Schools

No more than three decades ago, 60% of children living within a 2-mile radius of a school walked or bicycled to school. Today, that number has dropped to less than 15%. It is estimated that as much as 20 to 30% of traffic near schools in the weekday mornings is attributable to students being driven to school. Roughly 25% of children commute by school bus, and well over half are driven to/from school in vehicles. Thirty years ago, 5% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were considered to be overweight or obese. Today, that number has climbed to 20%. These statistics point to a rise in preventable childhood diseases, worsening air quality and congestion around schools, and missed opportunities for children to grow into self reliant, independent adults.

In addition to health benefits, Safe Routes to Schools programs have potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions. According to a 2005 Marin County study, achieving a statewide 20% increase in the number of students that walk or bicycle to school would reduce California’s carbon emissions by 500,000 tons annually. Locally, if Sonoma County increases the percentage of students walking or bicycling to school to 1980 levels, carbon emissions would be reduced by 6,400 tons per year.

There are two separate State and Federal Safe Routes to Schools programs. Both programs have the same basic goal of increasing the number of children walking and bicycling to school by making it safer for them to do so, but they differ in several respects. See Appendix B for a side by side comparison of the State and Federal programs.

Policy 5.01

Encourage ongoing development of the Safe Routes to School program by coordinating efforts of advocacy groups, school districts, Cities, and County departments.

Policy 5.02

Encourage development of a Pedi/Bike-Bus Program by coordinating efforts of advocacy groups, parents, school districts, Cities, and County departments.

Policy 5.03

Inventory safety needs/hazards along routes to and around schools in order to identify improvements necessary to improve safety and create a priority list of projects necessary to correct these hazards.

Policy 5.04

Encourage school districts to participate in providing safe bicycle and pedestrian connections that serve students from surrounding neighborhoods when constructing or improving schools. Encourage school districts to provide secure bicycle parking areas for students, faculty, and staff. Require private schools to provide continuous pedestrian pathways and bicycle facilities from adjacent residential communities to the school grounds.

Policy 5.05

Coordinate Bicycle Safety Education Programs at schools, with law enforcement agencies, school districts, advocacy groups, local bicycle shops, and other interested organizations. The program shall include traffic rules, bicycle handling skills, the importance of good helmets, lights and reflectors, bicycling clothing, and bicycle maintenance courses in cooperation with local bicycle shops and organizations.

Sources

• Lamorinda School Commute Study (Fehr & Peers Associates 1995).
• Marin County Safe Routes to Schools - Evaluation Report 2004-05 Transportation Authority of Marin Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates