Advancing safe routes to school programs

By Andi Anderson

The 2024 Making Strides State Report Cards, released by the Safe Routes Partnership, evaluates how supportive each state is of walking, bicycling, and physical activity. The report highlights progress and areas for improvement, emphasizing the importance of active transportation for healthier communities.

Iowa’s report card reflects significant efforts, including its alignment with the Iowa LEAP (Leveraging Activities and Partnerships to Address Obesity in Iowa) initiative. This program, managed by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, focuses on improving nutrition and encouraging physical activity in specific counties, including Cedar, Clinton, Crawford, Franklin, Muscatine, and Pottawattamie.

The report assesses states across four key areas that influence policies and infrastructure for physical activity:

• Complete Streets and Active Transportation Policies
• Federal and State Funding for Active Transportation
• Support for Safe Routes to School
• Active Neighborhoods and Schools

Iowa scored 90 out of 200, an 18-point improvement since 2022. The state earned recognition for its Complete Streets policies, goals to increase walking and biking, use of federal funds for active transportation, and support for Safe Routes to School projects.

Opportunities for growth include dedicating state funding for active transportation, incentivizing shared use of school facilities, and offering matching funds for high-need projects.

The report card serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, advocates, and communities. It highlights successful strategies, identifies gaps, and informs future policies. Stakeholders can use these insights to advocate for safer infrastructure, secure funding, and engage communities in promoting active transportation.

Continued investment in walking and biking infrastructure is essential for public health, traffic reduction, and environmental sustainability. Enhanced Safe Routes to School programs and increased funding for active transportation projects are particularly critical.

This report underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to create accessible, safe, and sustainable communities. For detailed insights, visit the Safe Routes Partnership website.

Photo Credit: iowa-state-university