We are waiting for a House Transportation and Defense Committee hearing date for Senate Bill 1121. And YOU CAN HELP!
Please contact the representatives on this Committee and urge them to hold a hearing for, and support, this bill, which will establish a statewide Safe Routes to School Program to improve the health and safety of school children. You can use this handy form or find contact information in this link, which also contains tips and messaging guidelines.
We are hoping the hearing will be scheduled for Thursday, March 16 so it is imperative you contact these representatives TODAY! Calling and emailing legislators is truly easy, effective and influential. Receiving concise, informed and passionate messages from constituents reminds lawmakers who they represent.
Lisa Brady with Treasure Valley Safe Routes to School program, Joe Wyatt, Cynthia Gibson with Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, and Courtney Wyatt after the Senate Transportation Committee Hearing on March 2.
Sen. Dan Johnson (R), Lewiston, giving testimony in favor of Senate Bill 1121 at the Senate Transportation Committee Hearing on March 2.
The Safe Routes to School – Healthy Kids Campaign, led by Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and the American Heart Association, achieved many milestones over the last few weeks. The first of these was getting our policy bill printed. SB 1121, the Safe Routes to School – Healthy Kids legislation benefited from the experience of Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Bert Brackett (R), Rogerson, the bill’s sponsor. He and other key allies in the Senate and their staff were crucial in bringing SB 1121 for a hearing on March 2.
Dozens of supporters packed the committee hearing room, and many of them spoke in support of the bill. The transportation committee voted unanimously with a Do Pass recommendation and sent it to the Senate. (Check out photos and videos from the hearing on our Facebook album and Facebook video library.) On March 7, by a vote of 27-8, the Senate voted for SB 1121! Please thank your senators for their support.
Don’t know who your legislator is? Follow this link!
The Safe Routes to School Program provides education and safety programs and infrastructure that allow school children to walk and bike to school safely, increasing their daily physical activity levels and lowering their long-term health risks.
Want more information? Read this argument about why state funding is important.
Safe Routes to School funding could help these communities, and others like them all over the state, make walking and/or bicycling to school less dangerous!
