Stand Up for Safe Routes to School
Improving the quality of school, recreational and residential environments for Illinois' children is one of the key tactics to addressing the State's childhood obesity epidemic. With the health of our children and the health of future generations in the balance, it is crucial to support and maintain the walking and biking infrastructure of our cities and towns.
The goal of Active Transportation Alliance's new Safe Routes to School campaign is to improve the Safe Routes to School program in Illinois by restoring the funding the program deserves and by ensuring that program runs effectively.
Many children face crumbling pedestrian infrastructure, non-existent sidewalks and a lack of crosswalks en route to school. Additionally, many children are unable to bike or walk to school because of concerns about personal safety and crime.
In addition to these existing challenges, Illinois' Safe Routes to School is now threatened by several governmental factors:
- There's been a drop in federal funding.
- The state is no longer required to employ a full-time Safe Routes to School coordinator.
- The application process has changed dramatically, making it more difficult for some communities to apply.
To learn more, or see how you can help, visit Active Transportation Alliance's Safe Routes to School campaign page. You can also learn more about bike and walkability - and voice your opinion - by visiting the Safe Routes to School blog and taking the SRTS survey.