Philadelphia, Pa., September 7, 2000 _ America Walks, a national coalition of pedestrian advocates, awarded the first annual "Working Together, Walking Together" Pedestrian Advocates Honor Awards at a public reception in the Millennium Hall at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, in conjunction with the Pro Bike/Pro Walk conference.

The theme for this year's honor awards was "Walking to School", centering on a time-honored American tradition that is in danger of being lost due to sprawling development, aggressive driving and increased dependence on the automobile. Two honor awards were conferred, the first for making walking to school safer and the second for celebrating walking to school and raising its profile.

STPP HONORED
The first honor award went to a broad coalition of groups headed by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP), for "outstanding pedestrian advocacy as demonstrated by the passage of the California Safe Routes to Schools Bill, October 1999." STPP is a national non-profit organization working to ensure a diversified transportation system.

The impressive organizing efforts of the California offices of STPP and their major partners, the California Bicycle Coalition, the Latino Issues Forum, BayPeds and the Steering Committee for the Physical Activity and Health Initiative, overwhelmed the legislature with organized letters of support and testimony from more than 70 activist groups and local governments. Of the 1000 pieces of legislation proposed in the California legislature last session, the Safe Routes to Schools Bill received the second highest number of supportive correspondence.

California State Senator Nell Soto and Speaker of the California Assembly Emeritus Antonio Villaraigosa were also honored in the award for their part in ensuring passage of the legislation. The bill dedicates $40 million over two years to improvements such as sidewalks, bicycle lanes, traffic calming, crossing improvements and bicycle racks that will make it easier for children to walk and bike to school. The bill raises no new taxes, but sets aside one-third of California's hazard elimination/safety program for local governments to use for school safety projects.