School starts July 30!

A key aspect of Parks and Recreation’s role in back-to-school preparations is the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. This national program encourages children and families to walk and roll to school when and where it is safe, aiming to provide accessible and protected routes for students. The ultimate goals of SRTS are to increase daily activity, improve fitness, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance air quality around our schools.

How Are “Safe Routes” Designed?

Safe routes are developed through a process called “Walk Auditing.” In these audits, SRTS team members, school administrators, local government officials, and elected representatives observe how drivers, pedestrians, and bikers interact with their environment. The group meets before school lets out and follows key routes taken by students, noting patterns, popular routes, surrounding infrastructure, and locations where drivers, pedestrians, and/or bikers are unsafe.

Some questions that auditors ask include:

• Are there convenient, accessible, and continuous sidewalks or paths between school entrances and adjacent streets?
• Are the pathways separated from the roadway by a curb, landscaped buffer, or parking lane?
• Is there a school zone speed limit, and is it appropriate for a school zone?
• Are there unobstructed sight lines between pedestrians and motor vehicle drivers?
• Are kids crossing the street safely, e.g., do they look left-right-left, use marked crosswalks when available, and obey traffic signals and crossing guards?
• Are there additional locations where crossing guards would be helpful?

As the kids get ready to go back to school, Decatur has been working to ensure the Safe Routes to School sidewalks and paths are clean and ready for kids to walk and roll to school! Check the map to find a safe route that works for you!

Save the Date for Safe Routes to School Celebrations in the Upcoming School Year!

• International Walk and Roll Day: October 9th, 2024
• Crossing Guard Appreciation Week: November 10-16th, 2024
• Love My Bus Month: February 2025
• GA Walk & Roll Day: March 5th, 2025
• Bike to School Day: May 7th, 2025