— Advertisement —

Feet First: SPS makes Safe Routes to School key to transportation plan

Seattle Public Schools will identify safe walking routes for walking school buses for every K-8 school in the district as part of a plan to prevent car drop-offs.

Providing safe ways for kids to bike and walk to school is one of the biggest and most popular effects of neighborhood greenway, and many of the neighborhood groups pushing the projects have identified routes that pass within a block or two of schools.

Navigating the insane school drop-off zones is among the most dangerous activities a child will face on an average day (whether they walk or are driven). Crossing guards, safe infrastructure, walking school buses, bike trains and safe route advice can go a long way in changing the way children arrive to class each day.


— Advertisement —

Plus, studies consistently show that kids who walk or bike to school arrive more ready to learn than kids who do not get a little exercise before classes begin, and the mission of getting more kids to walk and bike to school has galvanized parents across the city to get organized behind the call for safe streets.

But, of course, this news comes as the US House is working to demolish the federal Safe Routes to School program in favor of more oil and highway subsidies.

From Feet First:

With a unanimous vote of the Seattle School Board on February 1, 2012, the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) officially made Safe Routes to School a key part of their transportation strategy. The School Board voted to adopt new language into their Transportation Service Standards, integrating walking and biking into the pupil transportation plan.  Titled “Safe Routes to School / Biking & Walking Student Wellness Plan,” the new provision intends to:

  1. Continue employing adult crossing guards within the K-8 school boundaries;
  2. Conduct an annual mode choice survey in every K-8 school in the district; and
  3. Identify safe walking routes for Walking School Buses at every K-8 school beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.

This policy enhancement is a critical piece of the district’s shift to neighborhood schools. The progressive policy proposed by Seattle Public Schools Transportation Director Tom Bishop, seeks to make it easier for families to walk to their neighborhood schools following a district-wide consolidation and reduction of bus service.  “Nobody wants to see an increase in single-vehicle rides to neighborhood schools,” Bishop says, “but with parent concerns about pedestrian safety, we know it’s a risk.  By supporting walking school buses, the district is working to make it easier for more children to walk to school.” And the community will also reap the benefits of the school district’s efforts with a reduction of traffic. According to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, 10 to 14 percent of morning traffic is attributable to children being driven to school.

Read more…


About the author:


Related posts:

Comments

4 responses to “Feet First: SPS makes Safe Routes to School key to transportation plan”

  1. merlin

    I’m thrilled the Seattle Schools have taken this stance.
    I hope the School Board members are lobbying in favor of the national Safe Routes to Schools funding.

  2. […] other schools in town with active bike trains and walking school buses. With Seattle Public Schools making a safe route map for every K-8 school and citizen groups forming all over town, this is a great time for interested […]

  3. […] walking to school a key part of their transportation plan. Safe walking and biking routes will be designated for every school, and walking school buses and bike trains are encouraged. With schools around the country still […]

— Advertisement —

Bike Events Calendar

Sep
28
Thu
7:15 pm Point83 @ Westlake Park
Point83 @ Westlake Park
Sep 28 @ 7:15 pm
Point83 @ Westlake Park
Meet up in the center of the park at 7ish. Leave at 730. Every Thursday from now until forever rain or shine. Bikes, beers, illegal firepits, nachos, bottlerockets, timetraveling, lollygagging, mechanicals, good times.ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
Sep
30
Sat
all-day Reach the Beach Washington Cycle… @ Lacey, Washington
Reach the Beach Washington Cycle… @ Lacey, Washington
Sep 30 all-day
Reach the Beach Washington welcomes riders from across the PNW on September 30, 2023 to enjoy a fast and flat century ride starting in Lacey, WA and ending with a celebration on the beach in … Read more
10:00 am Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family … @ Beacon Hill Library
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family … @ Beacon Hill Library
Sep 30 @ 10:00 am
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family Bike Parade @ Beacon Hill Library | Seattle | Washington | United States
Join us for a family bike Parade from the Beacon Hill Library to Jefferson Park playground! There will be bike decorating, snacks, drinks, and more. We’ll be hosting a slow, family paced bike ride starting … Read more
10:00 am Family Bike Parade with Beacon H…
Family Bike Parade with Beacon H…
Sep 30 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family Bike Parade!Sept 30th, 10:00 amJoin us for a family bike parade from the Beacon Hill Library to Jefferson Park Playground. There will be bike decorating, snacks, drinks, and more.Start at … Read more
Oct
3
Tue
6:30 pm West Seattle Bike Connections mo… @ Online
West Seattle Bike Connections mo… @ Online
Oct 3 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
 ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
— Advertisements —

Latest on Mastodon

Loading Mastodon feed…

Latest on YouTube