Tuesday, November 8, 2005

DDOT Receives $5 Million to Make Walking, Biking to School Safer

 

Back in the day I used to bike to school 50 miles in the snow - uphill both ways. Back then more than half of all kids biked or walked to school. Today it's down to 15%. DDOT received a five-year, $5 million federal award to increase the safety of District students who walk and bike to school.

The Safe Routes to School funds will be used to build new sidewalks and curb ramps, improve and add crosswalks, install traffic-calming measures, increase safety education and enhance police enforcement. In addition, DDOT will conduct an intensive pilot program to promote safer walking and cycling at schools in each ward.

I'm not sure how much this will help non-students (studies show you're safer on the street than on a sidewalk) but the traffic calming and improved curb ramps will probably come in handy.

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