Forty years ago, roughly half of all children ages five to 18 years old walked and bicycled to school. Today, 85% of our children are driven to school either by bus or private vehicle. Approximately 25% of the country’s morning traffic is private vehicles driving children to school. The result? Increased traffic congestion, a reduction in air quality and the deterioration of our children’s health. And in Mississippi, 4 out of 10 of our children are at-risk of becoming overweight or are overweight and obese. 

     Our goal is to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools.

     Through available federal funds, communities can stage a wide variety of projects and activities to encourage, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage and educate children and their parents to safely walk and bicycle to school.