Strategy to Increase Safety and Physical Activity among American Youth. To access the full report, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org/task_force

 

The Task Force was called for in law and established by the U.S. Department of Transportation to study and develop a strategy for advancing programs that enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school.

 

As of March 2008, States have committed to spending approximately $222 million on SRTS programs. Forty-two States have announced funding for local and/or statewide programs involving nearly 2600 schools. The remaining States are either working to set up their programs or are in various stages of the first application cycle.

 

The report also outlines the importance of advancing opportunities and addressing challenges that face Safe Routes to School. The Task Force recommends working on solutions to address issues that limit or prevent walking and bicycling such as liability concerns from schools, the design and location of school campuses and personal safety concerns among parents. The Task Force also recommends an increase in funding for the program at the Federal level.

 

For a complete list of Task Force members, please visit

www.saferoutesinfo.org/task_force/task

_force_members.cfm

 

Source: American Public Works Association

 

Walking School Bus Training

In April and September, the NJ Department of Transportation sponsored free Walking School Bus (WSB) trainings in two communities. Safe Kids Middlesex County hosted a training at the Robert N. Wilentz Elementary School in Perth Amboy and Brick Township held a training at the Midstreams Elementary School. The events were coordinated with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, and The RBA Group.

 

The goal of the training sessions was to help participants plan and organize effective Walking School Bus programs in their own communities. Key topics included how to plan a walking school bus route, and how to recruit and train volunteers. The training also included a segment on WSB success stories in New Jersey, and a field exercise on walkability assessments.

 

Initial feedback from training attendees suggests that each event was a success.

 

If your community or organization is interested in free Walking School Bus training, contact VTC at SRTS@rci.rutgers.edu.