Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient and fun opportunities for children to walk and bicycle to and from school. The program has been designed to reverse the decline in children walking and bicycling to school. SRTS can also play a critical role in reversing the alarming nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and inactivity.

In 1969, approximately 50% of children walked or biked to school, with approximately 87% of children who lived within one mile of school walking or bicycling. Today, fewer than 15% of schoolchildren walk or bike to school. As a result, kids today are less active, less independent and less healthy. As much as 30% of morning traffic can be generated by parents driving their children to schools.

Concerned by the long-term health and traffic consequences of this trend, in 2005 the U.S. Congress approved funding for five years of state implementation of SRTS programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. SRTS programs are built on collaborative partnerships among many stakeholders that should include educators, parents, students, elected officials, city planners and engineers, business and community leaders, health officials, and bicycle and pedestrian advocates.

The most successful SRTS programs incorporate the 5 E’s: Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation. The goal of SRTS is to get more children walking and bicycling to schools safely on an everyday basis.

(This introduction to SRTS has been adapted from the website of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership; WalkBoston is a member of the National Steering Committee of the Partnership.)

To promote walking in New England, WalkBoston piloted the first comprehensive SRTS program in 2000. With assistance from the Massachusetts Highway Department, the first programs were undertaken in Arlington and Milton. With a sustained, 3-year program, walking rates at Arlington’s Dallin School rose from 38% to 58%! Even more important, Arlington walking programs continue in 2008 through the efforts of involved parents and school personnel.

In 2006, SRTS activities expanded to include communities and schools across the state. The MassRIDES office of the state’s Executive Office of Transportation coordinates the state’s SRTS programs. WalkBoston is engaged in several SRTS efforts with MassRIDES including safety training for second-graders and the Community SRTS Project.

Community Safe Routes to School Project (Community SRTS) is a program WalkBoston created to increase elementary student walking through community organizing and school-based efforts. Starting in summer 2008, four Massachusetts communities — Brockton, Newton, Stoneham and Watertown — will receive funding to hire part-time SRTS Coordinators to develop robust community programs encouraging children to walk to school and incorporate walking into their daily activities. Read the RFP for more details about the program.

Pedestrian Safety Training—WalkBoston has developed a special walking safety program for second-graders, and has now provided the training  to students at 40 schools in 24 communities across Massachusetts as part of the MassRIDES SRTS Program. To find out how to receive training, email WalkBoston or call 617.367.9255. Schools or communities that are not already MassRIDES partners can apply at www.commute.com.

STEPS to Good Health—WalkBoston and the Boston Public Health Commission have worked to implement this 5-year program in the Boston neighborhoods with the greatest health disparities. WalkBoston has provided help to more than 15 Boston schools to set up programs to encourage children to walk more often for health and fun.