Safe Routes » RiverRegionLean.com

What is Safe Routes to School?
Safe Routes to School is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from schools. The program has been designed to reverse the decline in children walking and bicycling to schools. Safe Routes to School can also play a critical role in reversing the alarming nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and inactivity.

There are important reasons to consider participation in a Safe Routes to School program at your school:

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years.
Overweight or obese children are 70% more likely to develop diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer
In 1969, approximately 50% of children walked or bicycled to school, and 87% of the children living within one mile of school walked or bicycled.
Today, fewer than 15% of schoolchildren walk or bicycle to school. As a result, kids today are less active, less independent, and less healthy.
As much as 20 to 30% of morning traffic can be generated by parents driving their children to schools
Traffic-related crashes are the top cause of death and major injury for children in the U.S. ages 1 to 17.
Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.

FIND OUT HOW SAFE ROUTES CAN WORK FOR YOU

PARTICIPATE ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3

References Cited:
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm
- http://saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/quick-facts
- http://saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/quick-facts
- http://saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/quick-facts
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm