FAQ
Listed below are some frequently asked questions regarding Safe Routes to School. If you have any additional questions regarding the program that are not addressed on this page, please feel free to contact the State's SRTS Coordinator, and we would be happy to assist you.
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Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is an international movement that began in the 1970’s in Denmark. It has quickly spread worldwide and into the United States in the 1990’s. The purpose of SRTS programs is to encourage kids to walk and bike to school and to improve safety in the vicinity of schools. In 2005, the federal government created a national SRTS program designed to enable and encourage school aged children K-8 grades to walk/bike to school, including those with disabilities, to make walking and biking to school safe and more appealing. The program has facilitated the planning, development, and implementation of projects that would improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
A successful Safe Routes to School program benefits children in several ways. When routes are safe, walking or biking to and from school is an easy way to get the regular physical activity children need for good health. Studies have shown that physically active kids have improved mood and concentration, a stronger self-image, and more self confidence. Physically active kids also have fewer chronic health problems and report lower levels of smoking and alcohol consumption.
It is also FUN! Research shows that walking or biking is children’s preferred method of getting to school. There is so much to see, smell, touch, think, and talk about. By walking with friends, children will build relationships and learn more about their neighborhood, their friends, and themselves. Safe Routes to School initiatives help the environment by easing traffic jams and curbing air pollution. Research has shown that 25 percent of morning traffic is parents driving their students to school. Fewer car trips also means lower gasoline bills-- a significant factor with today’s higher prices.
Fewer than 15 percent of all school trips are made by walking or bicycling, one-quarter are made on a school bus, and over half of all children arrive at school in private automobiles. This decline in walking and bicycling has had an adverse effect on traffic congestion and air quality around schools, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety. In addition, a growing body of evidence has shown that children who lead sedentary lifestyles are at risk for a variety of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Safety issues are a big concern for parents, who consistently cite traffic danger as a reason why their children are unable to bicycle or walk to school.
The purpose of the Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is to address these issues head on. At its heart, the SRTS Program empowers communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity once again. The Program makes funding available for a wide variety of programs and projects, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage children and their parents to walk and bicycle safely to school.
The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign, under contract with GDOT, conducted a Safe Routes to School program in four metro Atlanta schools. This was a four-year pilot program which produced a final report on the effectiveness of SRTS programs, as well as a statewide “how to” guide on developing SRTS programs at the local school or school district level.
KidsWalk
Through funding from the Atlanta Regional Commission, PEDS, a non-profit organization, is working in eight schools in the metro Atlanta region to encourage kids to walk to school and to improve pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the schools.
Athens Safe Routes to School Program
The non-profit organization Bike Athens is working with the Athens-Clarke county government on a SRTS program at Barrow Elementary, with hopes to expand their program.
Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign runs a “Better Air Schools” program which contains some Safe Routes to School elements such as encouraging children to walk or bike to school. The program is operating in 20 schools in the metro Atlanta region and is always seeking new schools to partner with.
The process of addressing barriers to safe walking and biking routes usually requires a combination of some or all of the following strategies known as the “5 Es”: education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, and evaluation.
Education trains motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists about their rights and responsibilities and promotes intermodal travel (using more than one form of transportation on a single journey). The educational component is especially aimed at helping children build their traffic and social skills. Educational examples include public traffic safety courses, safety programs in the classroom, flyers, and maps.
Encouragement, through activities, programs, and contests, provides incentives for children to walk and ride to school.
Engineering approaches reduce speed, narrow crossing distances, and improve children's visibility and safety by changing the physical environment. Engineering examples include designing streets that calm traffic; installing sidewalks, walkways, and bike paths; and improving safety where pedestrians cross streets.
Enforcement increases awareness and reduces the frequency of crime and traffic safety problems. Enforcement examples include: posting visible speed limits and school crossing signs; aggressively enforcing traffic laws; addressing environmental concerns such as abandoned houses, litter and dogs; and fostering "walking school buses" and neighborhood watch programs.
Evaluation is the final "E". It is important for school teams to evaluate their programs on a regular basis.
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GDOT will be receiving approximately a total of $17.2 million through the federal fiscal year (2005-2009).
70 to 90 percent of this funding must be used for infrastructure projects. 10 to 30 percent of this funding must be used for non-infrastructure programs. The funds will remain available until expended.
The statute identifies project types for each category as follows:
Infrastructure Projects
- Sidewalks
- Traffic calming and speed reduction
- Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements
- On-street and off-street bicycle facilities
- Off-street pedestrian facilities
- Traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools
Noninfrastructure Programs
- Activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school
- Public awareness campaigns, community outreach
- Traffic education
- Traffic enforcement operations in the vicinity of schools
- Student training sessions (bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment)
The SRTS funds will allow eligible participants to use the funds for a variety of purposes, but there are some limitations on how the funds can be used:
Ineligible items:
- Construction on pick-up/drop-off areas, unless it can be demonstrated that it increases the number of children biking or walking to/from school
- Compensation for crossing guards
- Repair of traffic lane pavement (unless it’s a new or upgraded bike facility)
- Purely cosmetic upgrades or routine maintenance of existing bicycle or pedestrian facilities (e.g. sidewalks, multi-use trails, bike lanes). Note: ADA upgrades are eligible
- School bus related improvements
- Purchase Right of Way
Non-Infrastructure
The Non-Infrastructure component of the program will be implemented through Georgia’s SRTS Resource Center. GDOT has a consulting team that will establish and maintain this Resource Center. Any K–8 school in Georgia will be able to enroll in the Resource Center and receive Non-Infrastructure SRTS services at no cost. The Center will assist schools with all education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, planning, and other non-construction related activities. The Center will be a One Stop Shop that provides the following:
- SRTS Interactive Website
- SRTS Information Hotline
- SRTS Training (i.e., bike or pedestrian safety training, etc.)
- SRTS Technical Assistance (i.e., help develop SRTS plans for schools, etc.)
- SRTS Outreach & Marketing (i.e., provide promotional items, flyers, etc.)
- SRTS Program Evaluations
Infrastructure
School districts and local governments are eligible to apply for SRTS infrastructure funds. Projects must be within two-mile radius of K-8 school and will undergo a competitive application process. All accepted applications must comply with federal and state funding requirements. All schools awarded infrastructure funds will be required to enroll in the Resource Center and participate in non-infrastructure SRTS activities consisting of education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation. The Resource Center will provide that mechanism to enable schools to be actively engaged in the 4 Non-Infrastructure Es, and enable GDOT to monitor recipients of these Infrastructure funding. GDOT and its Design Consultant will conduct all preliminary engineering for the awarded projects and will prepare projects for GDOT letting.
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Applications for infrastructure projects will be accepted from all eligible applicants that are currently implementing non-infrastructure activities (i.e., SRTS plan development, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities) or those who are actively enrolled with the SRTS Resource Center.
GDOT and its Design Consultant will conduct all preliminary engineering for the awarded projects and will prepare projects for GDOT letting. Due to the small number and size of the projects, it will be more efficient and cost-effective for GDOT to centrally manage these activities (e.g., design, right of way, and construction of the infrastructure projects). GDOT will coordinate with the local jurisdictions to ensure the project is designed and built according to the initial approved applications and concept. No infrastructure funds will be reimbursed to a project sponsor.
The Georgia SRTS Guidebook provides detailed instructions on how to create and sustain a successful SRTS Program in your community.
The funding limit for infrastructure projects is $500,000 per application and 10 applications per organization/agency. Each application may consist of multiple K-8 schools within the school district but the application cannot exceed $500,000.
Anyone with a strong interest in promoting bicycle and pedestrian initiatives and the benefits gained from an active lifestyle should be involved with a Safe Routes to School program. School teams can include school administrators, teachers, parents, students, law enforcement officers, school nurses, city engineers from the local public works department, school pupil transportation directors, trail and bike group representatives, city or county parks and recreation specialists, neighborhood association members....the possibilities are nearly endless.
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Walk to School Day, like Safe Routes to School, is a school-based initiative to encourage physical activity among Georgia’s children and youth. Walk to School day has become the kick-off event for Safe Routes to School, and is usually held the first week in October. It is a way for parents, students, school personnel, and other community members to directly experience the walk or bike to school as they walk and bike with students on the day of the event. It often generates wider teaching about the importance of physical activity, awareness of the fun of walking and biking, and early identification of safety concerns.
A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It works like this: an adult or group of adults begin walking along a set route to school. As they walk, they make “bus stops” and “pick up” other children along the way.
A bike train is essentially, a walking school bus for bicycles. This is a good alternative for those that live beyond walking distance (generally ½ mile to 2 miles from school).
A walking audit (also known as a walking tour or environmental assessment) is a process where parents, school administrators, and other community members tour the school property and adjacent neighborhoods to look for routes students can safely use to get to school. The audits typically focus on the walking and biking routes currently used to travel to school, the walking and biking routes that could be used to travel to school and the school property itself, especially pick-up and drop-off sites used by buses and parents. These tours show stakeholders what students experience during their walk to school and give school teams first-hand evidence of existing safety problems. Walking audits are generally held during school arrival and dismissal times.
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