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6. Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS)

Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS)

The Green Communities Association (GCA) is Canada's national umbrella group for non-profit community-based organizations that deliver innovative environmental programs and services with a focus on household and community action. The GCA facilitates information exchange and cooperation among members and works to develop shared approaches, common standards and new programs and services.

What are they doing?

The purpose of the program is to provide coordination, building blocks and support services for the implementation of ASRTS throughout Ontario. The program draws on community expertise and resources, is locally adaptable, promotes innovation, builds community capacity to address sustainable transportation issues, fosters strategic partnerships and promotes sustainability.

The program provides community coordinators, teachers and parents with hands-on tools to help communities understand and respond to transportation problems collectively. This collaboration can result in an increased use of active transportation on the route to school and on other short journeys.

This project will result in the development of the ASRTS Walking to School Bus Toolkit and the redevelopment of the ASRTS Program Resource Manual, which encourages people to choose active modes of transportation for their trips to school.

What did the project accomplish?

The latest project phase expanded the number of "School Walking Routes" in smaller cities throughout southern in Ontario. Notable results include:

• 12 schools in 6 communities implemented ASRTS programs and events
• Parent, teacher and student workshops with partner schools
• Distributed 800 Active and Safe Routes to School manuals throughout 17 schools
• Widespread media coverage with over 30 newspaper articles with a circulation of 1.5 million
• Partnerships to continue to expand program with over 80 groups throughout southern Ontario, including Regional Health Units, municipalities, county and regional governments, School Boards, Police and community organizations
• New ASRTS manual has is intended for Ontario audiences in smaller communities
• New ASRTS Ontario website (www.saferoutestoschool.ca) online January 2004
• 27 new Walking School Bus routes established
• An estimated 33% of Walking School Bus participants are mode switchers
• 68.24 tonnes of CO₂ offset (2.3 tonnes per participating school) through project events

Where can you find more information?

Active and Safe Routes to School

Date modified:

2010-02-03

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