Transcript Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Safe Routes to School (SRTS)Towards Sustainability
How do we move
SRTS, and other
similar ‘soft’
initiatives, to the top
of the public agenda
so they become the
new ‘norm’?
The Green Communities
Association
Benefits of walking:
• Easy, efficient and costeffective – almost
everyone can do it
• Helps to build and
maintain healthy bones
and muscles
• Boosts cardiovascular
fitness
• Helps maintain a
healthy body weight
• Leads to more energy
The Green Communities
Association
There is a need to:
• Reduce air pollution from the transportation
sector by replacing short, local trips with active
transportation
• Encourage Canadians to reduce their personal
climate change emissions
• Increase daily physical activity levels in children
and the population in general
• Make our communities safer by reducing traffic
injuries, especially for child pedestrians and
cyclists
The Green Communities
Association
Barriers to walking:
• Lack of pedestrian
friendly infrastructure
• Traffic volume and
speeds
• Noise and smells from
traffic
• Weather
• Driving has become a
habit – people no
longer make a choice
• Time – everyone is in a
rush today
• Convenience – a myth
The Green Communities
Association
“Whilst there are reasons for reducing car use by
children which apply to trips by any users (reducing
environmental pollution, reducing congestion, and
so on), there are other reasons for encouraging
children to walk and cycle, mainly to do with their
health. Increased physical activity by children can
bring various health benefits either in childhood or in
later life, including reduced risk of heart disease,
stroke, obesity and osteoporosis, and enhanced
mental health and quality of life (Health Education
Authority, 1997, Sustrans, undated).”
“The Effectiveness of Initiatives to Reduce Children’s Car Use”,
written by Roger L Mackett, Lindsey Lucas, James Paskins and
Jill Turbin of the Centre for Transport Studies, at University
College London for the European Transport Conference, held
in Strasbourg, France, October 2003
The Green Communities
Association
Benefits of SRTS:
• Reduces local trips
• Reduces local air
pollution
• Mitigates climate
change impacts
• Reduces traffic
congestion around
schools
• Some evidence that
physically active
children get better
grades
• Gives some freedom
and choice of mobility
The Green Communities
to children
Association
Benefits of SRTS continued:
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Promotes fitness and health
Increases community safety – ‘eyes on the street’
Teaches children important road safety skills
Children can become more familiar with their
neighbourhood – easier to recognize when
strangers are present
• Allows participants to experience ‘a vision of
possibility’
• Can lead to longer term behaviour change
• Reduces stress – makes people ‘feel good’
The Green Communities
Association
Examples of good ideas that have become
an accepted norm, and benefit the public:
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Non-smoking bylaws
Recycling
Ontario’s RIDE program
Parent Safety Program or kiss’ n ’ride
The Green Communities
Association
If it’s safe for kids, it’s
safe for everyone
The Green Communities
Association
www.saferoutestoschool.ca
The Green Communities
Association