Walking and bicycling to school can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle, yet most children in Kansas arrive at school in a car or bus. The Kansas Department of Transportation, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, provides reimbursements for projects or activities that will make walking and bicycling to school safe, enjoyable and routine. These Safe Routes to Schools Programs combine the following five components:

• Engineering — Improving infrastructure to reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, and to establish safe and accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways.
• Education — Teaching children about transportation choices, bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver safety campaigns near schools.
• Enforcement — Partnering with local law enforcement to improve compliance with traffic laws near schools and initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.
• Encouragement — Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling.
• Evaluation — Monitoring and documenting outcomes and trends through the collection of data before and after the interventions.