Making Strides: 2022 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities - Promotional Toolkit

A new report out from the Safe Routes Partnership and the Y, Making Strides: 2022 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities, analyzes state policy in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia to provide a snapshot of each state’s support for walking, biking, and physical activity. The report cards were generated by evaluating each state across a total of 27 indicator areas spanning four core topic areas: Complete Streets and Active Transportation Policy and Planning, Federal and State Active Transportation Funding, Safe Routes to School Funding and Supportive Practices, and Active Neighborhoods and Schools.

Here’s how [state name] is doing when it comes to supporting walking, biking, and physical activity:

[State] received an overall score of [XX] out of a possible 200 points, putting it in the [category name] category

• Complete Streets and Active Transportation: [XX]  out of 40 points
• Federal and State Active Transportation Funding: [XX]  out of 75 points
• Safe Routes to School Funding and Supportive Practices: [XX]  out of 40 points
• Active Neighborhoods and Schools: [XX]  out of 45 points

*** Sample messages according to your state’s overall score ***

Lacing Up (0-50 points)

[State] has taken some initial steps to support walking, biking, and active communities, but there remains significant potential to strengthen policies and invest more dollars in Safe Routes to School and active transportation. Compared to 2020, 2018, and 2016, [state] has made progress in [identify an area where scores have improved]. Unfortunately, [state]’s score declined in [identify an area where scores have declined, if applicable].

Warming Up (51-100 points)

[State] has taken steps toward establishing policies and initiatives that support Safe Routes to School and active transportation, most notably in [highlight an area where state is doing well]. At the same time, [state] still has not used many of the tools and techniques available to make communities safer for walking and biking and increase rates of active transportation. [State] is well-positioned to leverage its progress so far and enact even stronger policies and practices that will benefit residents’ health in the future.

Making Strides (101-150 points)

[State] is well on its way to enacting the kind of sustainable, long-term policies and initiatives that will ensure continued support for walking, biking, and active communities in the years to come. In particular, [state]’s actions in [identify areas of strength] show that [state]’s policymakers take their role seriously when it comes to promoting physical activity and active transportation. Now is the time to focus on areas where there remains significant potential to

Building Speed (151-200 points)

[State] has made a lasting, significant commitment to support walking, biking, and physical activity. [State] provides support for Safe Routes to School and active transportation in multiple ways, including [list one or more areas where state scored very well]. But that doesn’t mean our work is over – there is much more work to be done to ensure that all residents, from our cities to our towns to our rural communities, have the opportunity to safely walk, bike, and be physically active. We urge [state] to affirm its commitment to providing safe, equitable active transportation options by [describe initiative, policy, or program].

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In each of these topic areas, [state] has the opportunity to play a significant role—through policies, funding, and other support—in increasing the number of youth and adults walking, bicycling, and being physically active. Click here to explore the full report, fact sheet guides to using the information, and detailed maps showing each state’s status and progress across various indicators of support.