The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new Health in Five Years or Hi-5 (high-five), highlights a list of non-clinical community wide approaches with a proven track record. A current example of how state and local level organizations have implemented a Hi-5 program is the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
In a recent webinar sponsored by the CDC, information was presented explaining how walking and biking to school is not only cost-effective, but health related for today’s students. This Hi-5 program strives to improve community health and demonstrate positive health impact in five years or less, as well as offering cost effectiveness and savings over time.
SRTS, one of several Hi-5 interventions, encourages children and families to safely bike or walk to and from school and it combines community education with building environmental improvements. SRTS means taking steps so that students can safely get to school by foot or bicycle. The health benefits include the reduced risk of injury from traffic collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists, and increased cardiorespiratory fitness among students.
With SRTS training within the communities, there is an economic impact. One example shows that pedestrian and traffic signals in NYC reduced childhood and overall injury rates and further predictions indicate there will be a societal benefit of $230 million.
In a comparison of walking and biking, statistics show that in 1969 nearly 50 percent of all children walked or bicycled to school. As of 2009, only 13 percent of today’s children walk or bicycle to school.
Sara Zimmerman, program and policy director of Safe Routes to School National Partnership in Berkeley, California, explained the 6 E’s of Safe Routes. They include:
- Education: teaches the student how to be safe
- Encouragement: works to change negativity of the idea of biking and walking to school
- Engineering: works with community to promote sidewalks and street sign safety
- Enforcement: works with law enforcement officials to ensure traffic laws are followed
- Evaluation: the program becomes safer and more effective through continual evaluation
- Equity: stakeholders need to take a step back and ask “are we making a difference”
“This is an appealing concept to many people,” Zimmerman said.
SRTS is currently being implemented in 17,000 schools. $1.2 million is being provided and with 6.8 million students having benefited, SRTS is increasingly becoming popular.
SRTS results indicate that walking and bicycling to school increases physical activity. Students are more physically active, are more fit, and have a lower Body Mass Index than kids who don’t participate in these activities. One mile of walking to school each way equals two-thirds of the daily recommended 60 minutes of physical activity.
SRTS infrastructure improvements increased safety including a 45-percent decrease in injury to kids, and a 75 percent decrease in overall pedestrian injuries. SRTS can increase safety and equity for kids through focusing on programs and infrastructure improvements in under-invested communities.
In getting started with SRTS initiatives, there are several plans and programs to begin with such as getting the kids walking with a “walk to school day” or “walking school buses.”
Involvement is needed by parents, health departments, school staff, and others. There is no set formula, but it was explained that two basic approaches are needed to get started:
- Jump in with a small volunteer pilot.
- Do rigorous planning and kick off with a large effort.
Collaboration is essential for SRTS. Those needed to join in the efforts are community groups, families, public works, school transportation departments, law enforcement personnel, public health officials, teachers and school districts.
Melissa Kraemer Badtke, principal planner/safe routes coordinator of the East Central Regional Planning Commission in Menasha, Wisconsin, described how the SRTS works in that community. Badtke explained how 56 percent of schools participated across eight counties.
Over 43,000 students are impacted with the increased physical activity. In this Wisconsin pilot program, they received funding from WisDOT for the past four years, and an SRTS Regional Advisory Committee was established while incorporating a SRTS strategic plan during 2012-2016.
With the collaboration of partnerships, many types of education in the Wisconsin pilot include “walk to school day,” helmet education, education through curriculum, and onsite curriculum. Also, municipalities promote this program by hosting bicycle rodeos and events, teaching bicycle classes, and forming bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees. Private organizations get involved by incorporating SRTS into their wellness programing, and donate prizes and supplies for events.
“You need to get those interested in corporate policies to make it sustainable,” Badtke said.
Wisconsin programs and events include frequent walker programs, walking school bus programs, International Walk to School Day, bike safety month, bus rodeos, and parent pledges.
For more information on the Wisconsin program, go to www.eastcentralsrts.org and national resource guide information may be found at www.saferoutespartnership.org/publications.
