Update from the Washington, DC Safe Routes to School Program

Safe Routes to School is on a roll in Washington, DC! The District of Columbia Safe Routes to School program continues to offer Safe Routes to School planning assistance to any school that requests it. Eight schools are currently receiving this assistance, for a total of 30 schools since the start of the program. DC schools are also able to request in-classroom pedestrian safety education for students in grades K-2 and bicycle safety education for students in grades 3-8. This past summer, the DC Safe Routes to School program completed construction on a $2.2 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project to fill sidewalk gaps and make other safety improvements near schools.

The DC Safe Routes to School program is partnering with Kidical Mass DC and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association for a one day event this spring called, “The ABC’s of Family Bicycling.” This exciting event helped prepare families for the first National Bike to School Day. The event included training for how to ride in a bike train, information on the types of bikes and gear available for bicycling with children, an emergency bike repair clinic, a bicycle skills clinic and fun activities such as a bicycle decorating station. A number of local bike shops and non-profits attended the event.

For more information on the DC Safe Routes to School program, please contact Jennifer Hefferan, SRTS coordinator at (201) 671-2227 or visit the program website.