Although most Americans don't live in bike or pedestrian friendly cities, in just two years the Safe Routes to School program was able to dramatically increase the safety and number of students walking, biking, and carpooling to school, says director Deb Hubsmith.
But despite its need and benefits, SRTS’s meager 0.2 percent of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s safety budget could be reduced to even less - or, if Republican Eric Cantor (VA) has his way, cut completely.
More upsetting is that it's not about saving taxpayer money, it’s about pleasing car-thirsty lobbies says Grist, which points to a Rutger’s study showing that bike and walk-friendly communities are easy to set up, and, among their many benefits, they reduce long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.
School children don't just need a safe path to school; they need the outdoors and exercise. Please, Congress, don’t backpedal on the Safe Routes to School program!