La Crescent Safe Routes to School
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Encouraging Healthy Habits in our
Youth and Community

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Safe Routes to School Programs are designed to give children safe
routes to travel to and from school.  By encouraging children to safely walk or bike to school, we activate children’s lifestyles at a time when childhood obesity is rising.

The "Four-E's to Success
Safe Routes to School programs are designed to get more children to walk or bike to school safely.  Kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day - walking or biking to school can easily fill that requirement.  We can help our kids reach this goal by doing the following:

Encouragement
Students and parents are encouraged to participate in walking and biking to school by promoting activities such as walking school buses (an adult-supervised walk to school), organized Walk to School Days, and participation in contests.

Education
Teach students how to walk and bike safely.  Educate drivers on their responsibility to drive safely near schools and within neighborhoods.  Increase everyone’s awareness of the health and community benefits of walking and biking to school.

Engineering
Re-engineer walking and biking routes by addressing neighborhood-to-school connections (sidewalks, bike lanes, pathways, crosswalks, ect.) and traffic control measures near schools.

Enforcement
Law Enforcement addressing driver behavior is an important partner in a successful Safe Routes to School program.  Increasing traffic enforcement near schools also improves driver awareness.
 

Why Safe Routes for Healthier Kids?

We know that kids who lead active lives are much more likely to grow into healthy, active adults. Moreover, walking and biking to school gives kids social time together while helping them avoid childhood obesity, diabetes and other serious medical problems. That means a healthier community, healthier families and lower health care costs.

Benefits of a Safe Routes to School Program
·   Makes Children more alert in class
·   Enhances academic performance
·   Creates safer communities
·    Kids get to know their neighborhoods and develop a feeling of belonging
·    Walking is fun, healthy way for kids to travel to and from school
·    Teaches social and safety skills they will use throughout their lives
·    Walking to school is an easy way to get in the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day