| July
2005 |
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Next Metra Stop: Friendlytown! Health and Safety En Route to School Suburb's Streets Resound Briefly with Laughter, Joy Chicago Now Designated "Bike Friendly" |
Health and Safety En Route to School The city of Chicago is taking a new approach to teaching children about the merits of non-motorized modes of transportation. Mayor Daley’s Safe Routes Ambassadors, a program of the Chicago Department of Transportation, promotes a healthy and active lifestyle while having fun and being safe. Funded in part by the Illinois Department of Transportation and administered by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Safe Routes Ambassadors is free to schools citywide. This spring, we’ve not only been to schools, but health fairs and community events, reaching more than 1,500 people. In preparation for International Walk and Bike to School Day on Oct. 5, the Safe Routes Ambassadors offers a comprehensive toolkit for those interested in organizing an event at their school. The toolkit is divided into five steps, with printable resources at each stage. Anyone can coordinate the activities, and the toolkit is straightforward and easy to use. Check the CDOT Web site for updates: www.cityofchicago.org/transportation. New publications also are in the works. This literature focuses on outreach to parents and teachers about child bicycle and pedestrian safety, and driving safely in school zones. We also printed reflective zipper pulls with the reminder to “Stop, Look and Listen” before crossing streets. These will be distributed during safety presentations and given as prizes. “Kids on Foot in Chicago,” a coloring book for elementary-age children about the joys of safe walking, is now available at your local library. The Chicago Public Library has two copies of Kids on Foot in the reference section at each branch. The Safe Routes Ambassador program is available all summer for outreach at health fairs, summer school and community events. For more information or to request the program, contact Beth Gutelius at (312) 744-3019, or beth.gutelius@cityofchicago.org.
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