GIVE YOUR KIDS AN OUT OF CAR EXPERIENCE

What is safe routes to school?

Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program that helps communities to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging and enabling children to walk or bike to school.

What does safe routes do?

Safe Routes provides grant money to communities for both infrastructure projects (sidewalks, crosswalks, and connectors) and for education and encouragement programs.

Why is safe routes important?

• More than 25% of morning traffic can be attributed to cars dropping children off at school
• Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of age appropriate exercise every day
• In 1969, 42% of children walked to school. Today, that number is at just 13%
• Studies have shown that children who walk or bike actually have higher academic performance than those who are driven
• A family who walks to school reduces their carbon use by .164 metric tons a year
• Even if you don’t have kids, you stand to benefit from Safe Routes. Recent studies show that the higher the walk-ability of your neighborhood, the higher the value of your home.

What does mountain rides have to do with safe routes?

Mountain Rides is proud to coordinate Safe Routes in all Blaine County elementary schools and the Wood River Middle School. Promoting walking and biking is a huge part of Mountain Rides’ mission to provide transportation alternatives to the single occupancy vehicle.

Safe routes projects

Hemingway Sidewalks // Warm Springs Crossing // Elm Street Connector // Cedar Street Sidwalks // Glenwood Connector (Summer 2010) // Woodside Blvd Sidewalks (Summer 2011)

Safe routes successes

Increased participation to 21% in 2008 // Secured nearly $400,000 in infrastructure, education, and encouragement projects // Started bike and walk groups throughout Blaine County

Safe routes in your hood

Safe Routes has helped organize bike and walk groups that keep kids safe, take the stress out of the morning commute, and reduce traffic congestion. Call us to join one today!

Get involved

Safe Routes is establishing a Task Force at every school. The Task Force will help us plan events, develop travel plans, and identify infrastructure project priorities. We want to get a mix of people with varied experiences— parents, teachers, seniors, students, city officials, and police officers. Call us to get involved today!

Have questions? Need a free helmet? Want to join a bike or walk group? Call Eric at 788.RIDE (7433) x104 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(link to larger picture: Bellevue Safe Routes)

Link to larger picture: Hailey Safe Routes Link to larger picture:

Ketchum Sun Valley Safe Routes