Safe Routes to School Launches New Website

By Karl Rosengarth

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has launched a new website to help parents, schools, local and state governments, and advocacy groups implement programs that will encourage more kids to walk and bike to and from school. The website was created to help people tap into the $612 million federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, which was approved by the U.S. Congress in 2005 to support education and enforcement programs, and to help communities improve infrastructure such as building sidewalks and bike paths.

"We created this website to help people take action now to bring SRTS programs to their communities," said SRTS National Partnership Director Deb Hubsmith. "The potential benefits of SRTS programs include healthier children, reduced congestion around schools, less pollution, and safer streets."

The new site also includes an interactive U.S. map that allows users to access pages for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, a search function, updated national SRTS news, in-depth policy pages, event listings, and a submit-a-story form.

The new website www.saferoutespartnership.org is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Bikes Belong Coalition.