The
Welcome to the
Safe Routes to
School is Coming to Alabama
Children's
lives have altered dramatically over the last few decades. One of the most
startling changes is how little independence and mobility they now have
compared to the generations who grew up before them. Not so long ago, a vast
majority of kids routinely roamed their neighborhoods on foot or bicycle,
taking the first steps toward independence. Today, a new generation of moms and
dads chauffeur their kids to nearly all their activities, fearing for their
children's safety on streets due to perceived dangers from both crime and
traffic. Researchers estimate while more than two-thirds of all children walked
or biked to school as little as thirty years ago, that number has now plummeted
to less than ten percent.
Safe
Routes Takes Back the Streets
Yet a new movement
is emerging that is focusing on getting kids back on their feet and back on
their bikes. Neighborhood groups, traffic engineers and local officials can
work together to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists along school
routes, while encouraging both parents and their kids to take advantage of the
many benefits of getting around on foot or by bike. With new interest from
transportation professionals, public health advocates, neighborhood improvement
groups and local elected officials, communities all across the
Answering
Concerns, Real & Perceived
In order to
encourage more children to walk or bike, parents need to trust that it is both
safe and convenient from a variety of perspectives. A concern among some
parents is the threat
of violence as well as child abduction. While statistics tell us that
abductions are an extremely infrequent occurrence, many parents indeed have
legitimate concerns about crime, and violence prevention. Combating misperception, providing education
and encouragement, using proven SR2S strategies are important components of
SR2S programs in many areas.
But the
greatest danger for many children walking or biking to school comes from
traffic on neighborhood roads and streets. Parents often cite the fear of
traffic as one of their top concerns in allowing their kids to walk or bike to
school. They note the importance of stronger education programs for both
motorists and children, better enforcement of traffic laws, and projects and
programs to help slow down the speed of residential traffic. Indeed, it is
exactly this type of comprehensive approach to traffic safety problems that has
been shown to be most effective in creating safer streets and promoting
increased walking and bicycling among Americans of all ages.
Finally, A
SAFETEA-LU
(Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users) creates a new Safe Routes to School program, with $612 million allocated
for the program over the next 5 years and will help make it safe and
convenient for children to walk to school. A minimum of $1 million will be
allocated to each state, with 10-30% required to be spent on education and
encouragement programs. Grants administered by state Departments of
Transportation (DOT) will allow communities to build sidewalks, fix hazards,
and slow traffic near schools while increasing safety through focused
enforcement and education programs. "This bill will help states provide
substantial benefits for adults and children who ride bicycles, and this will
benefit America as a whole by helping people avoid traffic congestion, by
producing less air pollution, and by helping more Americans lead active,
healthy lives.
Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists Executive Director. To learn more about the bill, and for updated
analysis, visit www.bikeleague.org.
Safe Routes to
School (SRTS) Update
The
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has initiated SRTS planning
through the University Transportation Center
of Alabama (UTCA). AlaBike has also
been appointed to serve on the SRTS Advisory Board and attended the first
planning meeting March 7th in
AlaBike
has received a grant through the Active Living Resource Center (ALRC), funded
by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to hold two SRTS workshops in
Learn the Real Risks:
·
There are more
than three times as many overweight kids today as there were 25 years ago.
·
As much as 20%
of morning rush hour traffic can be parents driving kids to school.
·
School bus transportation is frequently the second largest budget item
for school districts after salaries.
·
Traffic accidents as auto passengers are the leading cause of mortality
in the
Imagine
Discovering a Way to:
·
Take one out
of every five cars off the road during the morning rush hour.
·
Reduce school
transportation costs.
·
Increase
childhood physical activity to help reduce incidences of diabetes and obesity.
·
Give children the same freedom
and independence enjoyed by Baby Boomers when they were kids.
For More
Information: Jamie Miernik jamorgan10@comcast.net
(256) 536-7190
SR2S Resources: http://bikesbelong.org/site/page.cfm?PageID=249 http://www.americabikes.org/saferoutestoschool.asp
FHWA website:http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/srtsguidance.htm
Join the 3rd Annual Four Hill
Century Ride Saturday, May 12th ,
2007. Ride options
from 40-100 miles, plus a 6-mile Family Ride.
www.AlaBike.org/fourhills
**********************************************************************************************
AlaBike
offers League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Bike Safety and Skills Class Road I
in Huntsville, AL
Next Class: June 9, 2007
Sure you know how to ride
a bike, but how well do you drive
your bike? LAB Road I is for all cyclists regardless of experience. It is also a pre-requisite for becoming a
cycling instructor for Safe Routes to School programs. Gain confidence on the road knowing that you
are riding legally and safely. Learn
crash avoidance techniques. For more
Safe Routes to School Workshop
Creating
and Utilizing Safe Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
Presented May 19th
2006, 8 am - 4
pm
Holiday Inn Downtown
This workshop was
held in conjunction with the 2nd annual Four Hill Century Ride, May
20, 2006
In partnership with
the Alabama Bicycle Coalition (AlaBike) and the Alabama Department of
Transportation (ALDOT)
35 planners,
teachers, and bicycle advocates attended
***Download
or view presentations from hyperlinks below in agenda***
Safe
Routes to School is Coming to Alabama
This workshop invites all
potential SRTS stakeholders such as:
school administrators, health, and PE teachers, as well as, local
officials, transportation planners, ALDOT, traffic engineers and law enforcement
personnel. All states will receive a
set-aside for Safe Routes to School (SRTS).
The new federally-funded SRTS set-aside could be a fresh start for a
GREAT program to reinvigorate bicycle and pedestrian transportation in this
temperate, beautiful and relatively low-traffic state.
Workshop Schedule
of Presentations
This presentations of this
workshop were designed to answer the question you mayhave
about Safe Routes to School.
Not an AlaBike member? Join AlaBike!
For Workshop
Information: Jamie Miernik jamorgan10@comcast.net
(256) 536-7190
Workshop
Schedule of Presentations
***Download
or view presentations from hyperlinks below***
May 19th Agenda Topics Presenter______
8:00 9:00 am On-site Registration Jamie Miernik
Material pick-up
MORNING SESSION
9:00 am Welcome and Introductory Comments Jamie Miernik
SR2S Getting Started Locally President, AlaBike
9:15 9:50 am Safe Routes to School Setting the
Context: Mr.
Safety, Health and Transportation Regional Planning
Commission of
Greater
9:50 10:20 am Be an Advocate for Quality Physical Dr. Sandra K. Sims, PhD
Education Programs in Your Schools Assis Prof Phys Ed
Education
BREAK
10:40 11:15 am Strategies for Healthier Children Dave Kyle
(Dr.
Jack Hataway MD
of Public Health was unable to attend. Health & Phys ED
Thanks to our last minute speaker) UAH
11:15 11:45
am City of Huntsville Bicycle
and
Pedestrian Plans: Plan Highlights Planner, City of
Supporting SR2S
Pedestrian Planning
11:45 pm 1:00
pm Luncheon Buffet Loftons Restaurant
AFTERNOON SESSION
1:00 1:30 pm SR2S Law Enforcement Role
Bicycle Patrol
Dept.
1:30 2:20 pm Training the Trainers for SR2S Lyndy Moore
Association,
Program Director
BREAK
2:35 3:15 pm Alabama Dept of Transportation
(ALDOT) Mr.
SR2S Program Plan ALDOT, Safe
Routes to School
Coordinator
3:15 3:45 pm SR2S Panel for Questions Mr.
Mr.
Jamie Miernik
3:650 pm Closing
Words Adjourn
For Workshop
Information: Jamie Miernik jamorgan10@comcast.net
(256) 536-7190
The Alabama
Bicycle Coalition (AlaBike) http://www.alabike.org/
is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization formed to promote
bicycling safety, education, and access in
Thank you for your interest in