Fewer kids walk or bike to school (U.S. DOT, 2009)

Danielle Hewson, MPH CHESN.C. Division of Public Health

Healthy Schools Summer Institute: Casting Your Net for Partners in Health

Friday, June 27, 2014

• Fewer kids walk or bike to school

(U.S. DOT, 2009)

• 15% of NC children ages 5-17 live within 1 mile of their school

• 34% live within 2 miles, however…

• Only 4% walk or bike to school. (CHAMP, 2011)

• Parents driving their children to school amount for up to 25% of morning rush hour traffic. (Parisi Associates, 2003; Morris, 2001)

Image: Provided by Joel Cranford

Why Focus on Walking and Biking to School?

Benefits of Walking and Biking to School

• Improves health – decreased obesity and asthma-related events• Teaches fundamental safety skills• Increases sense of freedom and responsibility

Children

• Improves the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists• Provides cost savings by reducing need for “hazard” busing• Benefits the local economy by funding construction projects

School/ Community

• Improves air quality by reducing vehicle emissions• Reduces traffic congestion near schoolsEnvironment

What is Active Routes to School?

• NC Department of Transportation and NC Division of Public Health • Administered through local NC health departments in 10 regionsPartnership

• NC Safe Routes to School initiatives• Community Transformation Grant Project partnerships• Local, regional and state community safety and health initiatives

Alignment

• Three year projectTiming

Active Routes to School Goal

Increase the number of

elementary and middle school students who

safely walk and bike to school.

DurhamAlamance

Alexander

Alleghany

Anson

Ashe

Beaufort

Bertie

Bladen

Brunswick

Cabarrus

Carteret

Caswell

CatawbaChatham

Chowan

Cleveland

Columbus

Craven

Cumberland

Currituck

DareDavidson

Davie

Duplin

Edgecombe

Forsyth

Franklin

Gaston

Gates

Granville

Greene

Guilford

Halifax

Harnett

Hertford

Hoke

Hyde

Iredell

Johnston

Jones

Lee

Lenoir

Lincoln

Martin

MecklenburgMontgomery

Moore

Nash

NewHanover

Northampton

Onslow

Orange

Pamlico

Camden

Pender

Pasquotank

Person

Pitt

Randolph

Richmond

Robeson

Rockingham

Rowan

Sampson

Scotland

Stanly

StokesSurry

CherokeeClay

Graham

Haywood

Jackson

Macon

Swain

Transylvania

Tyrrell

Union

Vance

Wake

Warren

Washington

Watauga

Wayne

Wilkes

Wilson

Yadkin

Avery

Buncombe

Burke

Caldwell

Henderson

McDowell

Madison

Mitchell

Polk

Rutherford

Yancey

Perquimans

11

22

33

44

55

66

77

88

99

1010

Legend

Active Routes To School Lead Health Departments

Community Transformation Grant Project Lead Health Departments

Counties

Regions

Last updated: 04/21/14

Active Routes to School Regions

• Hired and trained staff• Complete regional assessments• Begin establishing partnerships

• Begin execution of work plan and intervention activities• Identify and engage schools • Start evaluation

Year 3May 2016

• Continue execution of work plan and intervention activities• Plan for sustainability • Complete evaluation and report results

Program End • Demonstrate growth that exceeds the baseline• Create momentum to achieve future sustainability

Year 2Current

Year 1

Project Timeline

Assessment

OutcomeCreates baseline for NC Used in development of

work plans for years 2 and 3

ComponentsAll walking, biking and

awareness-raising activities Trainings/Workshops Policy change efforts for towns and schools

CriteriaSchools (K-8) July 2012-June 2013

academic school year

Project Activities

National Bike to School Day

Region 7 – East Clayton Elementary

National Bike to School Day

Region 4 -Woodlawn Elementary

Region 9 – Nags Head Elementary

Region 4 –Grand Oak Elementary

Partnership Opportunities

• Partnership Meetings• Programming• Infrastructure Statements• Trainings and Webinars

Thank you

Danielle Hewson, MPH, [email protected]

919.707.5219

Fewer kids walk or bike to school (U.S. DOT, 2009)

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