Safe routes / LJWorld.com

Letters to the Editor

By Clifton Pye - Lawrence

November 11, 2009

To the editor:

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation staff are presenting some good ideas at their public forums. One element that is missing from their presentation is a safe routes to schools initiative. The main goal of a safe routes initiative would be the creation of family friendly routes for walking and biking to school. The benefits of a safe routes program include improved family health, reduced traffic congestion, better air quality and enhanced neighborhood safety. A safe routes to school investment would be made in all parts of Lawrence rather than concentrated in a few neighborhoods. The beauty of such an initiative is that the federal government will fund up to 80 percent of the investment.

A safe routes to schools initiative has both engineering and education components. The engineering part includes the creation of walking and bicycle maps, signs to identify the safe routes for family members, improvements to sidewalks and bicycle paths, safe street crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, and slowing car traffic along the pathways.

The education part includes providing children and their families information about walking and biking to school, teaching pedestrian and bicycle safety skills, and teaching drivers to be careful when crossing pedestrian and bicycle routes. More information is available from the National Center for Safe Routes to School Web site, http://www.saferoutesinfo.org. A safe routes to school program provides a wonderful opportunity for the city to work with the schools to promote public health and safety.

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11 November 2009
at 4:10 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Good thinking.

OUR sales tax dollars are also available for a safe routes to schools initiative. A one cent sales tax was approved in 1994 that which the parks department dominates. This sales tax money belongs to WE the taxpayers.

The communities of Lawrence could work together and ask that a portion of OUR existing sales tax dollars be dedicated to widening some existing sidewalks to become safe walking/biking paths. Plus create new safe pathways throughout existing right of ways.

I am okay with using these/MY sales tax dollars in all neighborhoods because like many people this family uses walks all over town to transport US on bike and foot.

Sidewalks are recreational as well as a means to promote
good health. Walking and cycling are deemed as some of the most healthy exercises. Why? Light impact on the joints and muscles. Swimming is among the light impact exercises as well.

Between federal tax dollars,OUR existing sales tax money and grant funding the safe route initiative to be allowed to proceed.