View related pages: - Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues Program - Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force Page Download related documents: - Council of Mayors Calendar (PDF)   It's a fact Children are often bused or driven to school because of traffic safety concerns. This workshop showed how to design and promote "safe routes" that meet the transportation needs of young people. Did you know? 1 in 4 US children are overweight. Only 10% of US children walk or bike to school. Physical inactivity contributes to 250,000 US deaths a year. At a leisurely pace, it takes a mere ten minutes to walk half a mile or bike a mile. Automobile traffic to school contributes significantly to traffic congestion, air pollution, and traffic danger to children who are taking the healthy route to school. Communities across the county and world are working to make walking and cycling to school a safe and popular activity . . . with positive, measurable results!

Programs >> Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues >> Safe Routes to School Workshop

On May 10, 2002, the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) hosted a Safe Routes to School Workshop. Approximately 100 planners, engineers, school officials, parents, public health professionals, students and advocates gathered to discuss ideas for community initiatives, traffic calming projects and school-based promotion programs to get more children walking and biking safely to schools in northeastern Illinois.

For copies of the workshop summary and handouts, follow the links below or contact Tom Murtha at 312.793.3466 or tmurtha@catsmpo.com.

- Workshop Handouts
- Workshop Summary (PDF) 274 KB

The Safe Routes workshop report and materials can help with planning for International Walk to School Day, which is just around the corner on Wednesday, October 8, 2003. Contact your local school to find out what they have planned and consider volunteering to organize activities for the day. Over 3 million people participated in International Walk to School Day events in 2002.

International Walk to School Day Web Sites:
USA: www.walktoschool.org
International: www.iwalktoschool.org

If you have any questions or great ideas, or if you want to share what your school is doing, contact Maryann Romanelli, volunteer resource person for Safe Routes efforts in the Chicago area, at 630.323.0868 or greenonetoo@aol.com. She has also compiled some tips.

Additional Resources. International Walk to School Day can be a good kickoff event to open discussions about safe walking and biking routes to school in your community, and to promote walking and biking to school every day. Additional resources and ideas for improving walking and biking to school can be found at:
- www.saferoutestoschools.org
- www.4saferoutes.org
- www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk
- www.cawalktoschool.com

This Safe Routes to School workshop was organized by the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) as part of a series of events designed to share best practices information on walking and cycling issues.

For more information on CATS’ bicycle and pedestrian planning activities, please visit the Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues Program page or contact Tom Murtha at 312.793.3466 or tmurtha@catsmpo.com.

Last updated: May 30, 2003