In 1993, a elementary school parent concerned about he lack of neighborhood sidewalks contacted Bruce Appleyard, a transportation and community planning expert. Appleyard was asked to help lead an effort to build a path for kids to safely walk or bike to their local elementary school.
Based on his research on neighborhood walkability using "cognitive maps," Appleyard asked the elementary school kids to draw maps of their neighborhood. The children were asked to cite their home, school, friends' houses, danger zones and the places they liked to play, producing a cognitive map of their walking routes. He then prepared a single cognitive map to illustrate the necessary improvements and advocate for funding.
The neighborhood received a $40,000 California Transit Development Act grant to build a raised, crushed-granite path along a quarter mile of the busiest, most dangerous street leading to the elementary school and provide a new stop sign at the crosswalk. After the pathway had been used for some time, Appleyard re-engaged the children in the mapping exercise to see how the new path and crosswalk improvements changed their perceptions. The drawings reflected a stronger connection with their neighborhood, contained more detail and included more places they liked.
Goal
Safe Routes to School