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News and Updates

Funding History of Safe Routes to School

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

From 2005 to 2012, Safe Routes to School initiatives were funded through a standalone federal Safe Routes to school program. This program provided more than $1 billion in funding in all states to support infrastructure improvements and programming to make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to and from school. In June 2012, Congress…

Getting Started in Your Community

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

If Safe Routes to School is new to your community, it’s easy to get started! Planning an Event Some people start small by jumping in with an event.  You can get a principal or teacher on board and try hosting a Walk to School Day event or organizing a few families into a regular walking school bus.  Other…

Quick Facts and Stats

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

Here are some quick facts and statistics on Safe Routes to School. Find more information in our our publications and our library of resources. Helpful Statistics on Safe Routes to School Health and Obesity Children today are simply not getting enough physical activity, contributing to growing rates of obesity and obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes.…

Oregon Health Authority | Safe Routes to Parks Toolkit

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

Introduction What is Safe Routes to Parks? Safe Routes to Parks is a movement to make great parks safer and easier for people to access by walking, bicycling, and taking public transportation, especially in low-income communities and communities of color, where less investment has gone into the routes to and the facilities in parks. An…

Academic Performance and Attendance

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

How obesity, physical activity, and Safe Routes to School initiatives affect learning, academic achievement, and attendance   There is a growing body of evidence showing a positive relationship between physical activity and measures of academic achievement, including grade point average (Kontomaa et al, 2013), rate of learning (Hillman et al., 2009), and classroom behavior (Davis…

Safety for Walking and Bicycling

By tlcstarter | March 23, 2025

How safety from traffic and crime/violence can influence participation in active transportation Research reports safety as a commonly identified barrier to walking or bicycling to school. The literature on bicycle and pedestrian safety suggests that as safety increases, so does participation in active travel. Aside from distance to school, safety is most connected to the…

Water Resources Development Act of 2024

By Safe Routes Partnership | January 6, 2025

Wishing for more funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and Safe Routes to School? You’re in luck! Thanks to Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), the Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, there is $180 million in additional funding coming to states through the Transportation Alternatives Program. This week, Congress passed the Water Resources Development…

Water Resources Development Act of 2024

By Safe Routes Partnership | January 6, 2025

Wishing for more funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and Safe Routes to School? You’re in luck! Thanks to Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), the Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, there is $180 million in additional funding coming to states through the Transportation Alternatives Program. This week, Congress passed the Water Resources Development…

Louisiana Leads the Way: Supporting Activity-Friendly Rural Communities

By Safe Routes Partnership | December 11, 2024

  Louisiana Leads the Way: Supporting Activity-Friendly Rural Communities Millions in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds went unused in rural Louisiana due to local match requirements. To address this, public health partners supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including LA HOP and Safe Routes Partnership, collaborated with state officials to leverage…

Louisiana Leads the Way: Supporting Activity-Friendly Rural Communities

By Safe Routes Partnership | December 11, 2024

  Louisiana Leads the Way: Supporting Activity-Friendly Rural Communities Millions in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds went unused in rural Louisiana due to local match requirements. To address this, public health partners supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including LA HOP and Safe Routes Partnership, collaborated with state officials to leverage…

StoryWalk® with a Safe Routes Twist: A New Chapter in Community Safety

By Safe Routes Partnership | December 10, 2024

  View Photographs from the Safe Routes StoryWalk® Project Libraries have long been cherished as more than just a place to check out books. They are community hubs offering essential services at no cost. But for many, getting to the library safely is just as crucial as the services it provides. Inspired by a growing…

StoryWalk® with a Safe Routes Twist: A New Chapter in Community Safety

By Safe Routes Partnership | December 10, 2024

  View Photographs from the Safe Routes StoryWalk® Project Libraries have long been cherished as more than just a place to check out books. They are community hubs offering essential services at no cost. But for many, getting to the library safely is just as crucial as the services it provides. Inspired by a growing…

Highlights from the 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference

By Safe Routes Partnership | November 1, 2024

Highlights from the 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference   The 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, was a vibrant gathering of over 400 leaders, advocates, and educators united in a mission to make our communities safer and more accessible for all students. Over three days, conference attendees participated…

Highlights from the 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference

By Safe Routes Partnership | November 1, 2024

Highlights from the 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference   The 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, was a vibrant gathering of over 400 leaders, advocates, and educators united in a mission to make our communities safer and more accessible for all students. Over three days, conference attendees participated…

2026 Safe Routes to School National Conference Location – Letter of Interest

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 29, 2024

2026 Safe Routes to School National Conference Location – Letter of Interest The Safe Routes Partnership is very pleased to invite prospective state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning agencies, health and public health organizations, and nonprofits to serve as the local host and presenting sponsor of the 8th Safe Routes to School National Conference,…

2026 Safe Routes to School National Conference Location – Letter of Interest

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 29, 2024

2026 Safe Routes to School National Conference Location – Letter of Interest The Safe Routes Partnership is very pleased to invite prospective state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning agencies, health and public health organizations, and nonprofits to serve as the local host and presenting sponsor of the 8th Safe Routes to School National Conference,…

Nichole Hollis named as 2024 Hubsmith Safe Routes Champion Award Winner

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 8, 2024

Celebrating Nichole Hollis: A Champion for Safer, Equitable Journeys to School         The Safe Routes Partnership is proud to announce Nichole Hollis as the recipient of the 2024 Hubsmith Safe Routes Champion Award. Nichole is a transformative leader in Atlanta’s Safe Routes to School Program, dedicated to creating safer, more equitable pathways…

Nichole Hollis named as 2024 Hubsmith Safe Routes Champion Award Winner

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 8, 2024

Celebrating Nichole Hollis: A Champion for Safer, Equitable Journeys to School         The Safe Routes Partnership is proud to announce Nichole Hollis as the recipient of the 2024 Hubsmith Safe Routes Champion Award. Nichole is a transformative leader in Atlanta’s Safe Routes to School Program, dedicated to creating safer, more equitable pathways…

Familia, Cultura y Comunidad: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Cultural Pillars that Foster Park Access

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 7, 2024

Growing up in Tucson, parks were the heart of our family gatherings – a spacious spot for my large extended family to come together. I’ll have to admit that keeping track of everyone was a challenge! But it was always safe to call someone prima/primo (cousin) or Tío/Tía (aunt/uncle). I have some wonderful childhood memories…

Familia, Cultura y Comunidad: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Cultural Pillars that Foster Park Access

By Safe Routes Partnership | October 7, 2024

Growing up in Tucson, parks were the heart of our family gatherings – a spacious spot for my large extended family to come together. I’ll have to admit that keeping track of everyone was a challenge! But it was always safe to call someone prima/primo (cousin) or Tío/Tía (aunt/uncle). I have some wonderful childhood memories…