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The Challenge <br />Although most students in the United States walked or biked to school pre -1980's, the number of students <br />traveling to school on foot or by bike has sharply declined. This decline is due to a number of factors, including <br />urban growth patterns, school siting requirements, increased traffic, busy student schedules, and parental <br />concerns about safety. The situation is self-perpetuating: as more parents drive their children to school, there <br />is increased traffic at the school site, resulting in more parents becoming concerned about traffic and driving <br />their children to school. <br />Safe Routes <br />to School? Kids who walk <br />or bike to school: _AAf <br />• Arrive alert and able to focus on <br />Within the span of one generation, the percentage <br />of children walking or bicycling to school has <br />dropped precipitously. <br />aei <br />NUO tai <br />Kids are not getting enough physical activity. <br />Ali <br />Roads near schools are congested, decreasing <br />safety and air quality for children. <br />2 1 Wilshire Park Elementary School Safe Routes to School Plan <br />school <br />• Get most of their recommended daily <br />physical activity during the trip to <br />and from school <br />• Are more likely to be a healthy body <br />weight <br />• Demonstrate improved test scores <br />and better school performance <br />• Are less likely to suffer from <br />depression and anxiety' <br />The downward cycle of traffic and <br />reduced walking and bicycling <br />1 More information, including primary sources, can <br />be found at http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org. <br />