Promoting Safe routes to School, once a bumpy road for proponents, is now becoming a well-worn path thanks to continued praise and supportive research from our diverse program partners. This issue of Safe Routes Scoop examines how people are working to move SRTS forward, embracing new partners, developing new ideas and tactics, and removing the roadblocks that have held back SRTS initiatives in the past.

 

This issue highlights the ever growing body of research touting the benefits of walking and biking to school; our article “Physical Activity’s Positive Effect on Learning” discusses studies that suggest a positive relationship between exercise and academic achievement.

 

Many perceive funding as a major barrier to pedestrian planning, and indeed our municipalities are under increasingly burdensome fiscal constraints. Fortunately, funding for SRTS projects continues to be available through local, state and national entities. With the right knowledge, some of which we share in “Completing Big Projects Using Little Budgets” you can spend more time developing an excellent SRTS initiative while spending less money.

 

As a SRTS proponent, you might worry about the challenge of undertaking a SRTS initiative for the first time or coming up with ways to keep a long term program innovative and interesting. In this issue, we

 

provide tips and ideas from successful SRTS projects throughout New Jersey to help you and inspire you to create new programs of your own. “Walking and Biking to School throughout the Year” shares suggestions on how to generate year-long student interest in non-vehicular school transportation, while “Steal This Idea” discusses a way to get kids excited about walking by challenging them to walk across the state. Highlighting another innovative program, “Ready to Ride in Ocean Township” discusses how several schools implemented an in-class bicycle safety program which was well-received by students, teachers, and parents.

 

A variety of individuals are paving the way for practical and innovative bicycle and pedestrian initiatives.  With so many resources available, designing and implementing a successful SRTS program can be a relatively smooth process. And with the number of walking and bicycling proponents growing across the nation, finding support for SRTS efforts can be painless task.  I hope you are able to take advantage of these resources so that we can realize our shared goal of fostering more safe walking and biking trips to school throughout New Jersey.

 

—Elise Bremer-Nei,
NJDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator