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Children’s lives
have altered dramatically over the last few decades.
One of the most startling changes is how little independence and
mobility they now have compared to the generations who grew up before
them. Not so long ago, a vast majority of kids routinely roamed their
neighborhoods on foot or bicycle, taking the first steps toward
independence. Today, a new
generation of moms and dads chauffeur their kids to nearly all their
activities, fearing for their children’s safety on streets due to both
the real and perceived dangers of crime and traffic.
Forty years ago, half of all U.S. school children walked to
school. Now, the Centers
for Disease Control estimate that only 10% do.
The Surface Transportation Policy Project's "High Mileage
Moms" report found that the number of kids walking to school
dropped 23% between 1990 and 1995 alone.
Yet a new movement is
emerging that is focused on getting kids back on their feet and bikes.
Neighborhood groups, traffic engineers and local officials are
working together to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists
along school routes, while encouraging both parents and their kids to
take advantage of the many benefits of getting around on foot or by
bike. With new interest from transportation professionals, public
health advocates, neighborhood improvement groups and local elected
officials, communities all across the United States are discovering the
many benefits of providing “Safe Routes to School.”
In
order to encourage more children to walk or bike, parents need to trust
that it is both safe and convenient from a variety of perspectives.
Some parents are concerned about the threat of violence and
abduction. While statistics
continue to bear out the infrequency of random abductions, many parents
have legitimate concerns about crime, and violence prevention is an
integral component of Safe Routes to School programs in many areas.
But
the greatest danger for many children who choose to walk or bike to
school comes from traffic on neighborhood roads and streets.
Parents often cite the fear of traffic as one of their top
concerns in allowing their kids to walk or bike to school. They note the
importance of stronger education programs for both motorists and
children, better enforcement of traffic laws, and projects and programs
to help slow down the speed of residential traffic. Indeed, it is
exactly this type of comprehensive approach to traffic safety problems
that has been shown to be most effective in creating safer streets and
promoting increased walking and bicycling among Americans of all ages.
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