Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program Hawai‘i: Manual of Operations
Once you’ve decided you want to incorporate a Safe Routes Program at your school…
1. Assemble your team: Who are the key decision makers involved in a safe routes program, and who will this program directly affect? Parents, Principals, Resource Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Students and Community Members all play an important role in supporting a successful Safe Routes to School Program! Once you have the key players for your school, you can send out your program announcement letters and baseline survey tools.
2. Survey the Baseline: What is being measured and why are baseline measures so important? Counting the number of walkers before, during, and after SR2S events can help quantify activity and behavioral changes by measuring the impact of your school’s SR2S program activities. This information is valuable when trying to determine the success of the program in meeting target goals.
3. Assess Surveys: Once survey tools are returned and the assessments are completed by the Department of Health, focus groups made up of team members (e.g., school representatives, community members and parents) will review the assessment and begin the process of mapping out a safe routes program.
4. Map Safe Routes: Determining the safest routes for your children to get to and from school involves pinpointing possible problem areas (e.g., where traffic is heaviest) and identifying alternative paths for children walking to school as well as those being driven to school. The agencies that need to be involved in remediation of problem areas will be invited to participate in the mapping process.
5. Conduct Events: Kick off events (e.g., International Walk to School Day, Red Sneaker Week), and periodic contests (e.g., Walk and Roll Days, Pedometer Math Contests) help perpetuate the program. Once a Safe Route is determined, the team can decide if there are enough volunteers to do a daily, weekly, or even monthly walking bus program. (A walking bus consists of an adult as the engine with another adult as the caboose, picking up children along the route to get to school safely).
6. Reinforce Pedestrian Safety: Include classroom activities that reinforce pedestrian safety and walking as a preferred activity. Teachers are an important link in the successful reinforcement of pedestrian safety lessons learned through participation in the Safe Routes to Schools Program.
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