Summer Edition

As August approaches, Southern Nevada neighborhoods will come alive with students heading back to school—on foot, on bikes and with backpacks in tow. Every parent, guardian and child deserves a community where getting to school safely is not a concern but a given.

That’s where Safe Routes to School comes in. This international initiative promotes safer and healthier ways for students to travel to and from school. Locally, it’s administered by the Clark County School District and currently  supported through the Southern Nevada Health District’s Public Health Infrastructure grant.

Safe Routes to School is built on the Six E’s—Education, Encouragement, Engagement, Engineering, Evaluation and Equity—and focuses on creating environments that make walking and biking both safe and appealing for kids.

The Health District has partnered with CCSD’s Safe Routes to School initiative for more than 15 years, helping bring these efforts to more schools and students across the region. Participation is voluntary and each school tailors its involvement by choosing the activities that best fit its needs.

“Comprehensive Safe Routes to School programs really work,” said Nicole Bungum, Health Education Supervisor at the Health District. “They help increase physical activity levels among students and reduce the risk of injury. Kids who walk or bike to school are more likely to meet daily physical activity recommendations—but for that to happen, families need to feel confident in the safety of their routes.”

For more information, visit the Get Healthy Clark County Safe Routes to School page or the CCSD Safe Routes to School website

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