The 7 E's of Safe Routes
Engineering
Engineering focuses on the infrastructure in a neighborhood that contributes to a safer and more pleasant walking and biking experience. Children need well-designed, well-built, well-maintained and accessible facilities to successfully and safely walk or bicycle to school.Engineering strategies might focus on such issues as slowing down traffic, creating safer crossings or even making sure school routes are well-lit. These measures can be low-cost easy fixes, like painting curbs and crosswalks or adding signs. However, some communities might need more high-cost measures, like ADA compliant sidewalks.
Education
Education is a broad strategy that is directed toward all members of the community: students, parents, drivers, neighborhoods etc. These activities teach pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety, as well as the benefits of active transport to school. Education involves a combination of activities. For example, students who are learning pedestrian and bicycle safety will need practical experience such as bicycle obstacle courses or supervised walks through the neighborhood.
Parents are a vital asset to education. They influence student behavior because of their position as a primary teacher in the student’s life and affect the environment as drivers near the school. Drivers have the power to make the school a safe or unsafe walking space. Safe Routes to School educates drivers of the importance of obeying traffic laws and slowing down near schools.
The importance is clear: As vehicle speed increases, so does the pedestrian injury severity and the likelihood of death. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle moving 20 mph has a 5 percent chance of dying. As vehicle speed increases to 30 mph and 40 mph, the likelihood that the pedestrian will be killed increases to 45 percent and 85 percent, respectively, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
Neighbors are also key partners for education. For instance, neighbors can help remove environmental barriers to walking by, keeping sidewalks clear, pruning plants and shrubs and keeping unleashed pets off of the designated route.
Education is a broad strategy that is directed toward all members of the community: students, parents, drivers, neighborhoods etc. These activities teach pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety, as well as the benefits of active transport to school. Education involves a combination of activities. For example, students who are learning pedestrian and bicycle safety will need practical experience such as bicycle obstacle courses or supervised walks through the neighborhood.
Parents are a vital asset to education. They influence student behavior because of their position as a primary teacher in the student’s life and affect the environment as drivers near the school. Drivers have the power to make the school a safe or unsafe walking space. Safe Routes to School educates drivers of the importance of obeying traffic laws and slowing down near schools.
The importance is clear: As vehicle speed increases, so does the pedestrian injury severity and the likelihood of death. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle moving 20 mph has a 5 percent chance of dying. As vehicle speed increases to 30 mph and 40 mph, the likelihood that the pedestrian will be killed increases to 45 percent and 85 percent, respectively, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
Neighbors are also key partners for education. For instance, neighbors can help remove environmental barriers to walking by, keeping sidewalks clear, pruning plants and shrubs and keeping unleashed pets off of the designated route.
Encouragement
Encouragement activities are wide ranging and, in general, all about creating interest and excitement about active transport to school. These activities might be one-time events, such as Walk or Bike to School Day. Some schools might create yearlong contests or clubs dedicated to keeping track of and celebrating students long-term walking and biking, like mileage clubs and bicycle trains. These events show parents and students that walking and biking is possible and, of course, fun!
In Lawrence, one encouragement strategy that many schools can employ is to incorporate walking and biking activities into their Positive Behavior Support System (PBS).
Encouragement activities are wide ranging and, in general, all about creating interest and excitement about active transport to school. These activities might be one-time events, such as Walk or Bike to School Day. Some schools might create yearlong contests or clubs dedicated to keeping track of and celebrating students long-term walking and biking, like mileage clubs and bicycle trains. These events show parents and students that walking and biking is possible and, of course, fun!
In Lawrence, one encouragement strategy that many schools can employ is to incorporate walking and biking activities into their Positive Behavior Support System (PBS).
Enforcement
While encouragement, education and engineering are used to reinforce safe and positive behavior with students and the community, enforcement activities deter unsafe behaviors.
Enforcement is not just officers who write tickets for breaking traffic laws. It could include students, parents, crossing guards, school personnel and neighborhoods that work together to enforce safety rules.
While encouragement, education and engineering are used to reinforce safe and positive behavior with students and the community, enforcement activities deter unsafe behaviors.
Enforcement is not just officers who write tickets for breaking traffic laws. It could include students, parents, crossing guards, school personnel and neighborhoods that work together to enforce safety rules.
Evaluation
Evaluation is critical for a successful Safe Routes to School program. First, it provides a baseline understanding of what is happening in the community — how many children currently walk and bike and what the barriers are.
Then, evaluation guides the strategies that are used to create the safe routes and make sure the program is successful. Continued evaluation helps adjust the program and identify needs throughout the community.
There are several types of evaluation, such as walking audits of the route, observation of dismissal and in-class travel tallies. In Lawrence, parent surveys are conducted every fall and spring.
Evaluation is critical for a successful Safe Routes to School program. First, it provides a baseline understanding of what is happening in the community — how many children currently walk and bike and what the barriers are.
Then, evaluation guides the strategies that are used to create the safe routes and make sure the program is successful. Continued evaluation helps adjust the program and identify needs throughout the community.
There are several types of evaluation, such as walking audits of the route, observation of dismissal and in-class travel tallies. In Lawrence, parent surveys are conducted every fall and spring.
Engagement
Engagement is an essential component of a successful Safe Routes to School program. Whether it’s engagement of parents in the Safe Routes to School program by joining their school’s Safe Routes to School team, advocating for safe streets and engineering improvements to their local government or the civic engagement of students in various activities and advocacy efforts around Safe Routes to School, engagement is critical for building commitment and sustainability.
In the Be Active Safe Routes program, another key component of engagement is creating a system of community outreach that includes reporting activities and successes to the rest of the community — including promoting local events and making people aware of success stories. Success can’t thrive in a vacuum — a strong Safe Routes to School program depends on the visible and continued support of all local community leaders.
Engagement is an essential component of a successful Safe Routes to School program. Whether it’s engagement of parents in the Safe Routes to School program by joining their school’s Safe Routes to School team, advocating for safe streets and engineering improvements to their local government or the civic engagement of students in various activities and advocacy efforts around Safe Routes to School, engagement is critical for building commitment and sustainability.
In the Be Active Safe Routes program, another key component of engagement is creating a system of community outreach that includes reporting activities and successes to the rest of the community — including promoting local events and making people aware of success stories. Success can’t thrive in a vacuum — a strong Safe Routes to School program depends on the visible and continued support of all local community leaders.
Equity
Equity is when everyone has access to the opportunities necessary to satisfy their essential needs, advance their well-being and achieve their full potential. The Lawrence Public School District is committed to closing educational achievement gaps in different student populations, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is committed to closing health disparities in the community.
The Safe Routes to School program will work toward equity goals by ensuring that every student, no matter his or her background or situation, has the opportunity to safely walk and bike to school.
Equity is when everyone has access to the opportunities necessary to satisfy their essential needs, advance their well-being and achieve their full potential. The Lawrence Public School District is committed to closing educational achievement gaps in different student populations, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is committed to closing health disparities in the community.
The Safe Routes to School program will work toward equity goals by ensuring that every student, no matter his or her background or situation, has the opportunity to safely walk and bike to school.