Safe Routes to School

We are excited to re-launch the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program starting with University Elementary School! The goal of this program is to work with existing SRTS events that are happening at many of the schools in Bloomington and for City staff to create an action plan for each school. By focusing on one school at a time, over the course of approximately 8-12 months, staff can work with a committee of parents/guardians, teachers, and school admin to identify needed improvements for students and parents/guardians to feel comfortable walking or bicycling to and from school.

Program Background:

Born out of health and safety concerns due to declining physical activity among children and increased traffic around schools, Congress approved funding for implementation of SRTS programs in 2005. Since then program implementations have helped improve routes for students and their parents/guardians to walk and bicycle to and from school more. Although policy shifts since 2005 have changed the funding landscape for SRTS, there are a variety of funding sources that communities can apply for to construct infrastructure needed that make routes safer as well as implement SRTS education and promotion campaigns. The program as a whole focuses on the Six E's as described in the 2nd Edition of the Indiana Safe Routes to School Guidebook:

1. EDUCATION activities teach students, parents/guardians, drivers near the school, and neighbors about traffic safety and create awareness of the benefits and goals of SRTS. Education is often linked to encouragement. For example, children may learn safety skills and then get the chance to join a mileage club that rewards them for walking or bicycling to school.
2. ENCOURAGEMENT strategies generate excitement and interest in walking and bicycling to school.  
3. ENGINEERING is a broad term that describes physical changes to the walking and bicycling environment. Engineering strategies include planning and implementing physical improvements that make it safer and more attractive to walk and bicycle to school.
4. ENFORCEMENT strategies act to deter unsafe behaviors of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists and encourage all road users to obey traffic laws and share the road safely. It is a complementary strategy which includes students, parents/guardians, adult school crossing guards, school personnel, and neighborhoods all working together in conjunction with law enforcement.
5. EVALUATION will help you measure the impact of your efforts. Evaluation will also help inform needed changes or updates to your plan.
6. EQUITY will ensure that Safe Routes to School initiatives are benefiting all demographic groups and those without access to environments that support good health—including parks as well as public and private recreation facilities.

Maps of Existing Conditions and Highest Potential:

• Existing facilities within University Elementary school district and a 1-mile buffer
• Existing facilities within University Elementary school district and a 2-mile buffer
• Time it would take to bike to University Elementary with the fullest potential of facilities
• Time it would take to walk to University Elementary with the fullest potential of facilities

Previous Safe Routes to School Plans:

Arlington Heights Elementary 

Binford and Rogers Elementary

Fairview Elementary

Highland Park Elementary

Tri-North Middle School

University Elementary

To Learn More:

Safe Routes Partnership

Health by Design

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration