Abstract: The commentary suggests two primary policy issues that must be addressed nationally.
First, State Departments of Transportation, which administer the federal Safe Routes to School program, should track the income level of schools and communities that apply for and receive Safe Routes to School funding to assess whether low income schools are being adequately served. Second, as Safe Routes to School continues to expand, evaluation becomes even more essential for determining how and in what circumstances Safe Routes to School initiatives can be most effective. Examinations of the different approaches and impacts on children of different ages, races, income levels, geographic regions, and cultures are also indispensable.
