July 2012

How can we better promote walking and bicycling to school among girls? Studies show that the odds of walking and bicycling to school are 40 percent lower in girls than in boys (Giles-Corti et al, 2011;

Physical activity has been central in my life since I learned to run and ride a bike as a kid. Though my career military parents moved my family often, they always prioritized living near a neighborhood school so that my sisters and I could walk or bicycle.

While all states have a SRTS coordinator, few, if any, have been at it as long as Pat Pieratte with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). She just retired after 35 years with the department, serving six years as the SRTS coordinator. Before she left to go folk dancing in Croatia and Slovenia, there was a gathering to talk about her successes and wish her well.

Answering this is easy. The Safe Routes Partnership works to make changes to the built environment so that generations of children can bicycle and walk to school. Not only is it a great way to improve children’s lives, but it reminds adults about the simple joys of walking and bicycling with their family, friends and neighbors. 

Since the passage of the new federal Transportation bill (MAP-21) on July 6, I have heard “Oh, isn’t Safe Routes to School dead?” 

The answer is a resounding NO!  

IT’S ALIVE!

The August 2009 issue of Parks and Recreation features National Policy & Legal Analysis Network’s (now called ChangeLab Solutions) Joint-Use Agreement resources in an article about using school recreational facilities as community facilities. Mississippi is one of the states that have now bought in and is now on the path to discovering and implementing healthy altern