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Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Program (NUPAO)

Active School Neighborhood Checklist

Active Schools Checklist

In previous decades, walking and biking to school was an accepted practice by Americans and was a big part of our culture. However, the percentage of trips made by walking has declined over time among both children and adults. Walking and biking are great modes of transportation for our youth to get to and from school and are wonderful ways for youth to reach the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. In 1969, approximately half of all schoolchildren walked or bicycled to or from school and 87% of those living within one mile of school walked or bicycled. Today, fewer than 15% of children and adolescents use active modes of transportation (walking or biking) while the number of trips made by cars has skyrocketed.

The Arizona Department of Health Services partnered with the Arizona Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program to develop the Active School Neighborhood Checklist assessment tool that generates a score which represents the walkability, bikeability, and safety of the school (existing or proposed) location. The results of this assessment will help communities, school-siting professionals, schools, and city officials identify barriers that prevent students from walking and biking to and from school each day and create solutions to encourage neighborhoods to be more physically active.

Resources and Tools

Active School Neighborhood Checklist
An online tool for assessing school sites based on their walkability and bikeability.

Active School Neighborhood Checklist (ASNC) Guide BookPDF
A step-by-step guide book designed to be a guide to assist sites in the ASNC process.

International Walk to School Day 2012

Walk To School

The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Department of Health Services are encouraging families, schools and communities to participate in International Walk to School Day, on October 3rd.  Walk to School Day will encourage students to walk or bike to school regularly, and get their daily exercise. Walking to school incorporates exercise into each child’s daily routine, helps children meet physical activity recommendation levels and prevents adverse health consequences linked to overweight and obesity. According to Arizona Department of Transportation, 160 schools and almost 50,000 Arizona students will take part.

For more information about Safe Routes to School, please visit www.azdot.gov/srts. To find an International Walk to School Day event, or to register an event for your school, visit www.walkbiketoschool.org/. Visit www.azdhs.gov/phs/bnp/index.htm for information on nutrition and physical activity for Arizona children and adults.

 

For more information, please contact:

Arizona Safe Routes to School Program
Brian Fellows
Arizona Department of Transportation
1615 W. Jackson St, EM10
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-712-8010
email us  |  visit website

Arizona Department of Health Services
Cynthia Melde
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-364-3918
email us  |  visit website