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Public commenters urge WFRC to prioritize safe routes to school and bike-bus programs
Summary
A resident and multiple elected officials urged WFRC and partnering agencies to support organized bike-to-school programs, strengthen Safe Routes to School, and prioritize short, frequent trips and safety measures in planning and funding.
During the public-comment portion of the WFRC Active Transportation Committee meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, resident Roger Crandall and several elected members urged the committee and partner agencies to prioritize safe routes to school, coordinated “bike-bus” programs and local infrastructure improvements.
Roger Crandall said many school drop-off zones lack bus service and that large numbers of parents driving to schools create congestion and idling. “We need a real, well organized, super successful show of how easy this could be done,” Crandall said, urging coordinated bike-to-school programs adapted to U.S. communities.
Elected officials on the committee added that the current Safe Routes to School approach often relies on parent advisory committees, which some said is not producing consistent results. One council member described unsuccessful attempts to get a response from UDOT on safety issues at a middle school on a state route and said students face near-miss incidents at vehicle turning areas. Another speaker said short, frequent school trips are a priority because they occur five days a week and shape lifelong travel behavior.
Why it matters: commenters argued that prioritizing safe routes to school and low-cost micromobility options addresses frequent, short trips, public health and equity, and that municipalities need help with funding, coordinated state response, and technical assistance.
Ending: WFRC and partner agencies noted existing programs such as Move Utah and Safe Routes to School and said staff would follow up on specific site concerns raised during the comments.
