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Safe Routes To School

JulieVH - SRTS
 

 

Julie Van Horn - SRTS Coordinator 
MSD.SafeRoutes@medford.k12.or.us

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Annual Walk and Roll Events

  • International W+R: October
  • Ruby Bridges W+R: November
  • Winter W+R: February
  • Spring W+R & National Bike to School Day: May

 

Safe Routes to School at Howard Elementary
Safe Routes to School at Jefferson
Safe Routes to School at Howard Elementary

Walk, Bike, Bus... It's the Way to Go!

The Medford School District Safe Routes to School (MSD SRTS) program is all about creating safe, convenient and fun opportunities for students to walk and roll (skateboard, bike, scooter and bus) to and from school. This is important for the health and safety of our kids and to foster the creation of livable, vibrant communities. The SRTS program aims to increase physical activity and improve unsafe walking and bicycling conditions.

Who We Are

JULIE VAN HORN - MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL COORDINATOR

Julie Van Horn has been with the Medford School District for nearly 10 years and has been a crucial part in developing the MSD SRTS program, which was started in 2020 and partially funded until 2024 by education grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation. Her enthusiasm for active transportation and commitment to student and community safety make her a great fit for this position. 

What We Do

  • Education – pedestrian and bicycle safety lessons
  • Engineering – Action Plans which advocate for targeted improvements to streets, signs and signals around schools
  • Engagement – building relationships and the creation of programs that are most beneficial to community members
  • Evaluation – program assessments including student travel surveys
  • Encouragement – activities promoting walking, biking and rolling to school
  • Equity - the distribution of resources to reduce health and wealth disparities for all Medford School District students
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Why We Do It

The benefits to children, and communities, who participate in the Safe Routes to School programs are extensive:

  • Kids who are active perform 20% better at school and arrive with an increased ability to focus
  • Less congestion and traffic along routes to school makes our streets safer, while more students and families out walking and rolling increases their visibility
  • Kids who walk or roll to school are getting about 2/3 of the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity and being active not only increases physical health it also can help with mood regulation and increase mental health
  • Walking and rolling strengthens our community connections. More eyes on the street = safer communities