Anyone interested in helping kids get more active should consider the meeting at the MPC tomorrow (Mon 10/27) at 10am. As covered in today’s SMN, and previously on our site, GDOT is hosting a meeting to discuss the process for the newly announced infrastructure grants for Safe Routes to School.
We hope that Chatham County will get on board and be able to ask GDOT for long overdue funds to improve sidewalks, crosswalks and bike paths within 2 miles of elementary and middle schools throughout the county. A major obstacle to kids walking and riding bikes to school is their parents’ belief, in many cases well founded, that doing so is too dangerous. The result is all too many arrive in their parents’ cars. With some changes about how we look at the problem, with a systematic approach in all of our public and private schools, we can make a difference, and thus decrease traffic congestion, needlessly used fuel, and childhood obesity all at the same time. The best thing about the program is that if a grant is funded, there is no local cost — the project is fully funded by federal dollars and built by GDOT contractors. Stay tuned for more details, and if you can help, please let us know.