Safe Routes to School in New Jersey

Transcription

1 Safe Routes to School in New Jersey

2 The need for Safe Routes to School 1. Fewer kids today walk and bike to school 2. Unintended consequences have resulted 3. SRTS programs can be part of the solution

3 1. Fewer kids are biking and walking More parents are driving % walked or biked 13% walked or biked 12% driven 44% driven (U.S. DOT, 2009)

4 It s not just distance Students who live within 1 mile and walk or bike: 1969: 88% 2009: 38% (USDOT, 2009)

5 U.S. youth obesity rates (Trust for America s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2010)

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7 2. What are the unintended consequences of less walking and bicycling? Environment Individual health Safety

8 Barriers to walking and bicycling to school Community Design Safety Time and Convenience

9 3. Safe Routes to School programs are part of the solution to increase physical activity to improve unsafe walking conditions to improve poor air quality by reducing vehicle emissions

10 More benefits of SRTS programs Reduce traffic congestion around schools Cost savings for schools (reduce need for hazard busing) Teach fundamental safety skills Strengthen family bonds Increase child s sense of freedom and responsibility Provide more transportation options for everyone Benefit local economy

11 Elements of SRTS programs Education Encouragement Enforcement Engineering Evaluation

12 Driver & pedestrian behavior Average citizen does not understand phases of a pedestrian signal Average driver does not know to stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks

13 Pedestrian environment 67% of drivers exceeded posted speed limit in school zones 60% of parents & children walking to school encountered at least one serious hazard: Lack of sidewalk Lack of crosswalks Wide roads Speeding drivers

14 Slowing down traffic

15 Youth cognitive development Slower to identify objects in peripheral vision or correctly judge vehicle speeds Do not always link sound with visual cues Lack understanding of serious consequences Believe grownups will look out for them Think that if they can see themselves, others can see them too Children nine years of age and younger, are not able to identify and adjust to many dangerous traffic situations Depending on maturity, children of the same age may require different levels of supervision

16 Youth pedestrian crashes Fatalities among young pedestrians most often occur during the after school hours. The majority of the young pedestrian fatalities are boys.

17 Youth pedestrian crashes Child darting out into street Vehicle turning into path of a child Vehicle backing up in roadways, driveways or parking lots Child hidden from view

18 Youth bicycle crashes 83% of all bike crashes do not involve a motor vehicle, most are cyclist s falling off their bikes. Likely causes of these crashes include: Poor bike handling skills Surface hazards Bikes in poor mechanical condition

19 Youth bicycle crashes 13.7% - cyclists enter roadway from sidewalk or driveway Majority (68%-85%) are under 18 Common sidewalk errors: Riding out at driveway without looking (yielding) Backing vehicles

20 Ongoing education Reinforce safe crossing habits Model safe behavior walking, cycling, driving, etc. More than helmets

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22 Crime & personal safety Be Proactive: Prepare children by practicing safety skills (bullies, unsavory characters) Determine safest route and practice what to do in emergency Help children take charge of their safety Make a Safety Plan Ongoing education

23 New Jersey Safe Routes to School Resource Center Supports the NJDOT through: Research Technical assistance Resources, tools, tips

24 SRTS technical assistance Work with NJs 8 local Transportation Management Associations to provide outreach, program and technical assistance to local communities

25 Regional Coordinators provide: Visits to local communities & meetings with locals Assistance with School Travel Plans Assistance with walkability & bikeability assessments Assistance with SRTS events and activities Walk & bike to school events On-bike skills (bike rodeos) Safety assemblies Assistance with evaluation Help administering, collecting, and/or tabulating surveys Reporting to NJ SRTS Resource Center

26 October Walk & Bike to School Month New Jersey Registered Walk & Bike to School Events

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28 NJ SRTS Recognition Program Participants can be: Schools--public, private or charter Municipalities School Districts Recognition levels Entry Bronze Silver Sustainable Jersey Gold Applications Due Dec. 1, 2012

29 NJ SRTS Resource Center website