PROGRAM HISTORY

Welcome to WABA's Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program!

Injuries

National bicycle and pedestrian crash statistics show that children under the age of 15 are over-represented, and that these children are usually found to be the cause of bike/car crashes in which they are involved.

Personal Health

Growing concern in the Public Health field about the decreasing levels of physical activity and the effect of this trend on the health of children. In the United States, the number of overweight adolescents has tripled since 1980, (to 13% of al adolescents), and more than 60% of adults are overweight or obese. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002) This can lead to more health problems, including heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

The Response

The Maryland State Highway Administration has been developing its Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program for several years and has recently been joined by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation in supporting the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's program to expand it into DC and ultimately throughout Maryland.

FY 2002: year 1- Toole Design Group, LLC of Laurel, MD designed the program by consulting with successful Ped/Bike safety programs from all over the world, local educators, and the City of Rockville's department of Recreation and Parks.

FY 2003: year 2- City of Rockville's department of Recreation and Parks field tested the program in Rockville schools.

FY 2004: year 3- City of Rockville expanded the program into every school in Rockville. Washington Area Bicyclist Association expanded the program into Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland and into the District of Columbia.

FY 2005: year 4- Washington Area Bicyclist Association expands the program further in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties and in the District of Columbia, as well as into Central MD for the first time. This expansion is accomplished by means of teacher trainings, a program website, another program trailer, coordination, and mentoring.

FY 2006: year 5- At the end of FY 2006, the WABA safety education program reached over 11,000 kids, 100 teachers and 500 Confident City Cyclists.