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Counties Served: Jackson*, Graham, Clay, Cherokee,
Swain, Macon, Haywood & Transylvania
Jackie MooreRegion 1 Coordinator
Adapted from the National Center for Safe Routes to School’s “Improving Health, Safety and Transportation”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHAR7gqjBTY&feature=youtu.be
What is Active Routes to School?• NC Division of Public Health and NC Department of Transportation• Administered through the local NC health departmentsPartnership
• NC Safe Routes to School initiatives• Local, regional and state community safety and health initiativesAlignment
• Began as a Three year project scheduled to end 2016 now extended through 2019.Timing
Benefits of Walking and Biking to School
• Increases academic performance• Improves health – decreased obesity and asthma-related events• Teaches fundamental safety skills
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
Physical Activity RecommendationsChildren and adolescents need 1 hour or more of
physical activity daily. This should include:
60 minutes or more of physical activity daily
Data Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/. Accessed 04/2015.
Good news! Communities are taking action on behalf of their kids
Elements of Safe Routes to School
programsEducation
Encouragement
Enforcement
Engineering
Evaluation
Active Routes to School Goal
Increase the number of elementary and
middle school students who safely walk and bike to or
AT school.
Project Activities
Active Routes is implementing Safe Routes to School initiatives through local health departments across the state.
Is It Working?
19
85
41
156
110
TBD0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Bike to School Day (May) Walk to School Day (October)
201320142015
Data Source: Schools registered on www.walkbike.org. Accessed 5/11/15
Active Routes to School Starts 2014
Active Routes to School Starts 2014
84% Increase!
479% Increase!
Schools served in Jackson County
• Fairview ( am and pm walk/run program)
• Cullowhee Valley (walking Wednesday)
• Blue Ridge • School of Alternatives
(walk across America & Appalachian Trail)
• Scotts Creek ( sea to sea walk across NC)
• Heritage Christian Academy (no PE classes available = walking program)
• The Summit Charter School
• Smokey Mountain Elementary
Region 1
Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson*, Macon, Swain, Transylvania
Weekly Walking Wednesday• The Scoop
– Cullowhee Valley School started a weekly walking program for K-8 students
– Cullowhee, NC: Jackson County
• Partners – Jackson County Parks and Recreation,
Western Carolina University and Cullowhee Valley School.
• Program Reach– An average of 50 students and their
families as well as numerous WCU community volunteers & teachers walk each Wednesday
• Program Resulted in:– Community partners collaborated to lead a countywide
walking program.– About 50 students, parents, and volunteers walk a
quarter-mile trail from Jackson County Recreation Department to the school.
– WCU football coaches and players assisted as walking buddies and safety patrol members along the trail. While WCU players earned service learning credits for their efforts, most maintained their volunteer roles till the school year’s end as they had built friendships with the students.
Clay County Summer Bicycle program
Common Elements Among Programs that Increased Walking and Bicycling
1. In-school champion2. Promotional activities3. Parent support4. Policies
Making the connection: How can YOU engage with Active Routes
to School?• Community and neighborhood site improvement
– Participate and/or conduct walking/bicycling assessments to help identify and address safety features near schools for bicycle and pedestrian activity
• Wellness Committees – Invite Active Routes to School Coordinators to attend your
committees (e.g., health and wellness committees)
• Policy Change– School Wellness Policy, Complete Streets, Shared-Use of Facilities,
invite coordinator to be part of the development bike & pedestrian plans, comprehensive plans, transportation plans.
Region 1• 15 months• 8 Counties• 30 New
Schools• 100’s of
Healthier kids• PRICELESS
