WalkBoston is an organization which advocates for improved walking conditions in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Founded in 1990, its mission is to “create and preserve safe walking environments that build vital communities.” In 1999, WalkBoston began a SRTS pilot program in three Boston suburbs with funding from MassHighway to increase the number of children walking to school in order to reduce the number who were driven by car. Along with this goal, WalkBoston was commissioned to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of the schools. Currently, WalkBoston is running programs in three Boston city schools with funding from CDC’s Steps for a Healthier US program.
WalkBoston has put together a helpful guide on starting a local SRTS program (see inset). The guide focuses on the model the group used in one of its pilot towns, Arlington. Arlington has many elements which allowed the program to be successful – most significantly, an interconnected street pattern and close proximity of a majority of students to local schools. Getting parents on board was seen as a priority and proved to be the most important piece in the program’s success. “At each participating school the SRTS team hired a parent as a part-time coordinator who helped to run the program.” Volunteers often are not willing to do all of the work required and by virtue of hiring someone, consistency can be ensured. These coordinators, along with a “local champion” who was highly vocal in promoting the program, were effective tools in encouraging parents to walk with their children and persuading teachers in their classrooms to promote the benefits of walking.
Results
Prior to the implementation of SRTS in Arlington, half of the students were driven to school by their parents. At one elementary school prior to the program, only 38 percent of the students walked to school; after one year of the program, over 56 percent were walking to school. WalkBoston conducts a simple survey several times a year to gauge how well the program is doing. The survey asks a few basic questions, such as, “How did you get to school this morning?” and “How would you like to get to school?” Overall, WalkBoston feels that it has had the most success with elementary schools and with parents predisposed to allowing their children walk to school provided there was an organized program and assurance of safety. Middle school students, while receptive to the program, were not happy with having to wake up earlier to walk to school when getting driven allowed them to sleep in later. Overall, WalkBoston believes that its SRTS programs helped to reduce the congestion in front of schools, which dramatically improved safety in the area. Plus, the group contends that students are more ready to learn and be in school after walking.
Lessons Learned
In interviews, WalkBoston staff said that activities to promote SRTS in a school are crucial to gaining support from students and their families. Just talking about the importance of walking and activity are not enough by themselves. Offering a range of activities is recommended to achieve success. Examples include: a newsletter with student stories/pictures/drawings about walking and information about the program, safety training for all students and staff, and contests offering pedometers as prizes. When it comes to implementing curriculum, working with the physical education staff is suggested as the best option, since PE classes are more flexible with class content.
HOW TO START A SRTS PROGRAM
WalkBoston has put together a seven-step process to assess need, develop/run a program and evaluate results
1. Identify Interest
2. Organize, Publicize
3. Collect Information and Assess Conditions
4. Plan your program
5. Implement your SRTS Program
6. Evaluate
7. Plan to Sustain your Program in the Future
source: WalkBoston. (2003, August). Safe Routes to Schools Tool Kit Manual or How to Start Your Own Walk-to-School-Bike-to-School-Traffic-Reduction-and-Safety Program.
