In 2009, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin worked with Sheboygan County's elementary and middle schools to write and implement Safe Routes to School Programs. Safe Routes to School is a federally-funded program that is being implemented in communities throughout the country to increase the number of children safely walking and biking to school.
The Sheboygan County Safe Routes to School Plan is a comprehensive approach to bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning which encompasses engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. Together the "five E's" can be used to effectively counter the perception that biking and walking is unsafe.
Safe Routes to School Committees
To foster an environment supportive of walking and biking, schools are encouraged to set up Safe Routes to Schools committees comprised of parents and faculty dedicated to increasing the safety of their students walking and biking to school. The Bike Fed helped organize Safe Routes to School committees at a number of schools throughout the county with the following goals in mind for the first year:
- Increase participation in October's Bike & Walk to School Day
- Facilitate a school-wide transportation survey
- Identify other Safe Routes-related programs and projects to be worked towards in the coming year
School Audits
The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin performed walking and bicycling audits within a two mile radius of each elementary and middle school in Sheboygan County. During these audits, the Bike Fed documented and mapped any hazard or problem areas that might inhibit students walking or biking to school. Some things the Bike Fed looked for were sidewalks, street crossings, street signs, school zones, driver behaviors, and bicycle facilities surrounding each school.
Individual School Action Plans
Audit data collected was then converted to maps and Safe Routes to School Action Plans for each individual school.
School Action Plans enabled Sheboygan County to understand the improvements needed, which led to allocation of over $400,000 for engineering and facility improvements at schools across the county. Funding was secured through the Sheboygan County Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program.
Thank you to the Sheboygan County School District and all of the teachers, principals, and volunteers who helped us in making the Sheboygan Safe Routes To School Program a success!
READ the complete Sheboygan Safe Routes to School Plan here.
School Audit Reports and Action Plans
Questions on Sheboygan County's SRTS program?
Please contact
Jessica Binder, or call (414) 271-9685 x3.
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