Safe Routes to School Plan

Safety of intersections and crossings, fear of violence or crime, and a lack of adults to walk or bike with prevented caregivers from allowing their children to walk or bike to school. Having a group of students or an adult to walk or bike with better facilities and facility maintenance would make Sun Path caregivers more comfortable allowing their children to bike or walk to school. Sweeney Elementary: Ten caregiver surveys were completed for Sweeney Elementary School. 50% of respon dents estimated living one half to two miles from school while the rest live under 1/2 mile. When traveling to school, most students are driven by a family vehicle while the rest mostly walk or take the school bus. On the way home, more students walk than are driven by a family vehicle. The caregivers noted that the safety of intersections and crossings is the overwhelming reason more students do not walk or bike to school, with the amount of traffic and lack of adults to walk/bike with also limiting this option. Safer intersections/crossings and the addition of crossing guards or student patrols would help caregivers feel more comfortable with their students biking or walking. Shakopee East Middle: Three caregiver surveys were completed for Shakopee East Middle School, with one living one quarter to one half mile away from school, one living one to two miles away, and the other did not note a distance. When traveling to school, one walks, while the others are driven. But on the way home from school, all caregivers noted that their children walk. Weather or climate are major deterrents from letting their children walk, as is the safety of intersections and cross ings, the lack of a group to walk or bike with, fear of violence or crime, and access to a bike or bike lock. Better snow/ice removal, safer intersections and crossings, having a group to walk or bike with, and having access to a bike and bike lock would make caregivers more comfortable allowing their child to bike or walk to school. Shakopee West Middle: 18 caregiver surveys were completed for West Middle School, with a majority living 1/2 to one mile from school, nearly 40% living over one mile away, and the rest under 1/2 mile. When traveling to school, 30% walk or bike, 13% take the school bus, and the rest (56%) are driven by a family vehicle. On the way home, more students walk or take the bus than are driven by a familly vehicle. 13% of caregivers reported that they would not feel comfortable letting their student walk or bike to school at any grade level, citing the safety of intersections, amount of traffic and speeds along routes, and the distance be tween home and school as the primary reasons. By improving the safety of intersections and crossings, encoun tering less traffic, and making sure roads/paths are maintained throughout the seasons, caregivers would feel more comfortable letting their students walk or bike to school. Shakopee High: 27 caregiver surveys were completed for Shakopee High School. Of these respondents, over half live between one and two miles from school, while the rest are spread evenly between distance less than one mile and over two miles. In order to get to school, over 50% of students are driven by a family vehicle, and the rest are spread pretty even between walking, biking, taking the school bus, or carpooling. While the same primary modes are used on the return trip from school, slightly more students walk or carpool instead of being picked up by a family vehicle. 41% of caregivers noted that they would not feel comfortable with their student walking or biking to school, citing intersection and crossing safety, amount of traffic and traffic speeds, distance between home and school, and weather or climate limitations as their main concerns. Safer intersections or crosswalks, better snow and ice management, and routes with less and slower traffic would help caregivers feel more comfortable letting their students use these modes.

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SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN SHAKOPEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHAKOPEE, MN