Safe Routes to School?

[Geofizz]

Is anyone participating in a Safe Routes to School program?

I've been invited to participate in an initial planning phase of the program at my daughter's school. I started writing letters to the city last fall about one particular intersection, and they seemed helpful in person, but no action has come from my complaints. I hope to affect some change from the inside.

I'd love to hear about any experience people have had in working with schools and cities to make getting to school on foot safe. My first meeting is this afternoon.

[Geofizz]

Anyone?

The meeting was really interesting. We've got 7 months to complete a study of problem areas, make recommendations to the city for changes, and put in place a program to encourage walking to school. I found the meeting frustrating, because I was the only one there with the goal of making walking to school safe. Everyone else was worried about various (real and serious) problems with parents dropping kids off in a car. It was difficult to communicate that those problems will be greatly eased if a greater proportion would just walk to school. We live 0.3 miles from school, and of 5 kids on this block, we're the only ones that walk.

My job is to gather names of people at the school interested in making the neighborhood safer for walking. That's pretty easy.

[columbusmomma]

I wonder how close we are? PM if you don't what to post where in the city you are! My DS will probably have the chance to walk/bike to school next year and I just don't know when I'll be comfy with that concept. I am reading Protecting the Gift right now, and there is some discussion about a concept like this, which I think is extrememly important! What school district are you?

[mommajb]

I haven't heard of this program.

We are in the same boat only we are closer to .33 miles from school. The other children not only ride to school in cars but they don't carpool. I just don't get it.

I walk with dd1. The issues we have are darkness and old, unclear sidewalks. We walk in the street if it is rainy or snowy or simply still puddly from yesterdays rain. I suppose I could get rainboots for myself. The most dangerous intersection would be the one closest to the school due to all the drop-offs. Our walk is from the center of the neighborhood to the edge. Our own street would be the busiest street and it is so not busy that the boys play ball in the street. She walks home with on her own though we meet her part way many days. She then heads right back out on her bike to deliver newpapers.