1	Colorado Safe Routes Education Creating a Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly Region
2	Agenda Background of Safe Routes to School Benefits of the Program The Plan Your Involvement Questions and Answers
3	Background National Survey… 70% of parents walked or bicycled to school 10% of their children walk or bicycle today Child obesity is on an alarming rise Safe Routes was born Grassroots movement – “make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school”. Big federal boost in 2005 – Federal Transportation bill included state funds to create new Safe Routes to School
4	Benefits of School Programs Safety The promotion of bicycling and walking to school provides the opportunity to address safety – through teaching children pedestrian and bicycling skills. Hazardous conditions along routes to school can be identified and fixed. Accomplished via the FOUR E’s: Encouragement - use events and contests to entice students to try walking and biking. Education – teach students important safety skills and launch driver safety campaigns. Engineering – create physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding the school, reduce speeds, establish safer cross walks and pathways. Enforcement – use local law enforcement to ensure drivers obey traffic laws.
5	"Air Quality and the Environment" Air Quality and the Environment Walking or biking protects the environment and your health by reducing the miles driven by automobile. Vehicles emit a variety of pollutants Physical Activity Obesity rates among children have more than doubled in the past twenty years. Physical activity recommendations for children suggest that they need a variety of activities each day. Walking and biking to school is a missed opportunity. About 10% of children nationwide walk to school regularly
6	The Plan Overall plan includes Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs. The first phase is the education portion for all 4 towns. This will be followed by site and neighborhood reviews in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. Major Milestones: February 2007 Recruit volunteers, set up training. April 2007 Completion of training, site surveys at Aspen and Basalt by Bicycle Colorado May 2007 Completion of Carbondale & GWS school site & neighborhood audits June 2007 Final report to New Century Transportation (Maps and infrastructure improvement list presented to school districts, city council, parent groups) Additional report and grant applications will be completed at the end of this phase. Your participation is optional with follow up projects.
7	Your Involvement We need… Your ideas. Your help with coordinating events. Your ability to communicate with others. Some of your time A bi-monthly program team meeting (1 – 1.5 hours. Time and day TBD.) Help with special events
8	Questions?