MMSD and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin have partnered in an effort to increase the number of students who safely bike and walk to school.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a growing international movement to increase the number and safety of kids walking and biking to school. A federally funded program, SRTS is being adopted in communities across the nation to address skyrocketing childhood obesity rates, poor air quality and the resulting crashes and injuries due to increased traffic near schools. Through Education, Engineering, Encouragement and Enforcement SRTS programs increase the number and safety of children walking and biking to school.

• Improved student health and increased levels of physical activity
• Fewer parents driving and less traffic congestion around schools
• Improved air quality surrounding schools and reduced use of carbon fuels

MMSD’s Safe Routes to School Program was initiated by a community partnership between MMSD and the Bike Fed. In October 2009, the Bike Fed raised private funding from Trek Bicycle Corporation and the Alliance for Walking and Biking to support a fulltime SRTS Developer to work within MMSD. In 2009-2010 the SRTS Developer worked out of the Office of the Superintendent to apply for SRTS program implementation funds, develop a district-wide SRTS plan, conduct district-wide evaluation surveys, and lead pilot school programs at John Muir Elementary, Jefferson M.S., O’Keeffe M.S., and East H.S. In October 2010, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program awarded MMSD $280,000 to implement its district SRTS program. This funding will be available in Spring of 2011, and be dispersed over the course of two years. MMSD will use this funding to hire a full-time SRTS coordinator, develop district-wide education and encouragement programming around walking and biking to school, and facilitate school based planning efforts to encourage walking and biking. Already much work is being done to promote safe biking and walking in MMSD. The SRTS program complements MMSD’s strategic plan and builds off the work already being done by groups such as the School Traffic Safety Committee, the Safe Kids Coalition, Safe Communities, Madison Public Health, and the City of Madison.

• Develop district framework and resources to increase walking and biking to school
• Facilitate the development of school-based SRTS plans and programs
• Build community collaboration and partnerships

Contact Brian Conger, (608) 251-4456 to learn more about Safe Routes to School in MMSD.