I'm A Parent

> Do you drive your kids to school each day?
> Are you worried that your kids are not getting enough exercise?
> Are you worried that they will not be safe walking or biking on their own?
> Is it too far or too hilly for them to walk or bike?

THE BARRIERS

Stranger Danger
You may be worried about children encountering bullies or strangers on the way to school. You may be afraid of kidnapping or assault. While the actual occurrences are extremely rare, consideration should be taken to address this fear and create a plan to reduce risk. Parent accompaniment of children on the walk to school is one way to solve this concern. Some communities use "Walking or Biking School Buses" as a way to have an adult presence on the street. Walk + Bike School Buses also help to reduce other crimes in the neighborhood, since there is a greater presence of concerned parents and neighbors on the street.
> Learn More about Walk + Bike School Buses

Traffic
In many communities, roads have been designed for automobile travel, and sidewalks, lights and signs are inadequate. You may feel that it is just too dangerous for your children to walk or bike to school. You are not alone. Urban and rural planning often doesn't take "livability" into account. However, many communities around the country are making positive changes, and children are beginning to walk and bike again, just like when we were kids. Our Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program can be the solution!
> Learn More about SR2S

THE SOLUTIONS

Physical Activity
Over 25% of American kids are obese. There are more than three times as many overweight  kids today as there were 25 years ago. More than 1 in 3 young people in grades 9–12 do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity.

Traffic Calming
When there are more adults and children walking and biking on the road, the community becomes accustomed to their presence. Motorists tend to drive slower and smarter when they know there are children present, reducing accidents and conflicts. Carpooling kids to school is a great way to reduce traffic on neighborhood streets, especially if the distance to school is long or the route is hilly!

Safe Routes to School
Parents also worry about the condition of the sidewalks or streets on the route to school, or that there isn't an identified "safe route". Communities can implement traffic calming and engineering methods - part of a comprehensive Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program - to make streets and sidewalks safer to travel by foot or bike.
> Learn More about the Safe Routes to School program

School Teams
Your school may already have a School Team in place, working to get kids walking and biking to school safely. A School Team may plan a Walk + Bike to School Day event (usually held in October during International Walk to School week), or implement components of a SR2S program. You can get involved by joining or creating a School Team.
> Learn More about School Teams

Oregon Walk + Bike to School
The Oregon Walk + Bike to School program incorporates Safe Routes to School techniques specifically for cities and towns in Oregon. We have dedicated staff and volunteers, resources, and technical expertise available to help communities get kids walking and biking to school again. If you are interested in getting a Walk+Bike to School program or event started in your community, just follow the link just below, and we will walk you through all the steps necessary to get your students more active!
> Learn More about the Oregon Walk+Bike to School Program