A SR2S program integrates health, fitness, traffic relief, environmental awareness and safety under one program. It is an opportunity to work closely with your school, your community and your local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer and cleaner environment for everyone.
We need a SR2S Volunteer Coordinator - call Shawn Irvine at 503-838-6242
The program has four components:
Encouragement - Events, contests and promotional materials are incentives that encourage children and parents to try walking and biking. We can provide your community with promotional and contest materials, and ongoing consultation. Education - Classroom lessons teach children the skills necessary to navigate through busy streets and persuade them to be active participants in the program. We have developed curriculum which includes traffic safety and lessons on health and the environment. We can assist you and our schools. Engineering – Examine the physical barriers that prohibit children from safely navigating the routes to schools. We partner with engineering experts who can assist your community in learning how to evaluate streets and provide the tools to create a safer environment Enforcement – Partner with law enforcement to increase the police presence around schools. Driver’s education is even more effective in changing the behavior of harried parents and commuters who are not paying attention to the children on the roads.
Why Safe Routes is Important
Did you walk or bike to school when you were young? In 1969, 50% of all children walked to school (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Walking or biking to school gives children a taste of freedom and responsibility, allows them to enjoy the fresh air and the opportunity to get to know their neighborhood, while arriving at school alert, refreshed and ready to start their day. Yet most American children are denied this experience --today, only 15% of America's children walk or bike to school (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
According to local studies, 21-27% of morning traffic is attributed to parents driving their children to school . This has caused increased traffic congestion around schools, prompting even more parents to drive their kids. The consequences to our children, to their health and to the health of the community are extensive.
A successful Safe Routes to Schools program improves the health and safety of pupils and the surrounding neighborhood. Students increase their physical activity, potentially improving their alertness and behavior. California studies have shown that children who are physically active perform better academically (California Department of Education, December 2002). Safe Routes to Schools can also satisfy the physical activity component of your Wellness Policy.
Cities with existing programs have experienced reduced traffic congestion, reduced collision in and around schools, and decreased speed in residential neighborhoods. Children learn valuable traffic safety skills and responsibility and more people of all ages are able to walk and bike in the neighborhood as a result of improved access.
The Safe Routes to School program in Independence is a sub-committee of the Traffic Safety Committee.
The committee is under the quideance of
Shawn Irvine, City of Independence Planning.
If you are interested in joining the SR2S committee, please call Shawn at 838-1212 email
We would like to get representatives from each school; teachers, parents, and students.
To create safer routes for walking and bicycling sidewalks, education programs and traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve conditions.
please call Shawn at 838-1212 email