Safe Routes to School
In 1969, almost half of all children, ages five to 14, biked or walked to school. Today, that number is less than 15 percent. Safe Routes to School is a national initiative to promote biking and walking among elementary and middle school students. By improving streets, calming traffic, and teaching kids about bicycle and pedestrian safety, communities can make it easier for all children to be physically active, starting with their trip to school.
Five E's
The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program uses a collaborative, community-focused approach to increase safe biking and walking among elementary and middle school students.
SRTS utilizes the five E's:
- Education: Teaching bicycle and pedestrian safety.
- Encouragement: Promoting events and programs.
- Enforcement: Collaborating with local police departments.
- Engineering: Designing and building safer streets.
- Evaluation: Assessing needs and monitoring outcomes.
SRTS in Weymouth
In 2013, Town staff met with MassDOT engineers to complete an on-the-ground assessment of potential SRTS improvement in the Pingree School area of Weymouth. In 2016, MassDOT proposed the following infrastructure improvements for federal SRTS funding:
- Sidewalk repairs
- Curb and sidewalk extensions
- Accessible curb ramps and crosswalks
- High-visibility pavement markings
- Bicycle and pedestrian signage
- New school-zone warning beacons
Improvements were completed in 2018. Find photos here.
School Walk Area Maps
Find walk area maps of Weymouth's elementary schools below and start planning your child's safe route to school:
Related Documents/Links
- Presentation: Safe Routes to Pingree School - Design Public Hearing (MassDOT, Mar 2017)
- Handout: Safe Routes to Pingree School - Design Public Hearing (MassDOT, May 2017)
- News Article: Pingree students taught street safety as part of state program (Weymouth News, Sep 2016)
- Walk and Bike to School Days (UNC Highway Safety Research Center)
- National Center for Safe Routes to School (UNC Highway Safety Research Center)