Loading...
7.d) SRTS Survey (March 2011)Scandia Elementary Parent Survey on Walking/Biking to School Parent's opinions on allowing children to walk and bike to/from school March 2011 Response Rate: 141 of 306 families (46%) General Observations: 1) Top 6 issues that affect parents' decisions to allow or not allow biking/walking to school: • Speed of traffic along route (77%) • Distance (73%) • Amount of traffic along route (72%) • Safety of intersections and crossings (56%) • Sidewalks or pathways (53%) • Weather or climate (48%) 2) Top 6 issues that parents answered YES to the question, "Would you probably let your child walk or bike to/from school if this problem were changed or improved?"* • Sidewalks or pathways (35%) • Speed of traffic along route (34%) • Distance (33%) • Amount of traffic along route (33%) • TIE: Safety of intersections/crossings -- weather/climate (27%) 3) Distance from school is an issue for the majority of parents: • 103 (73%) selected distance as an issue. • 85 (60%) live 3 or more miles from school • 67 (48%) live 4 or more miles from school • 67 (48%) selected distance as an issue AND said they would not feel comfortable allowing their child to walk/bike at any age. This indicates that for nearly half of parents, distance (combined with other factors) may be an obstacle to big to overcome, even if safety issues were alleviated. * NOTE: A large number of parents did not follow instructions on the multiple -column question on page 2. They were asked to check on the left if an issue affects their decision to allow walking/biking, and check on the right if they would probably allow walking/biking if the issue was changed or improved. Many parents only answered the left or the right side. If they only answered the right side, I assumed they were checking which issues cause them concern, rather than indicating which changes would alleviate their concerns. This may be why the percentages are considerably smaller for the changes that would alleviate concerns. 4) Over half of parents (54%) say, "I would not feel comfortable at any grade" allowing my child to walk or bike to school without an adult. • Of those parents not comfortable at any grade, the percentage that checked "Distance" as an issue: ...................................................................... 88% • Of those not comfortable at any grade, percentage who live 3 or more miles fromschool......................................................................................................................74% • Of those not comfortable at any grade, percentage who live 4 or more miles from school.....................................................................................62% 5) 59 parents (42%) provided an age at which they would allow their child to bike. Six parents (4%) did not answer the question. • Of the 59 parents who provided an age, 75% live within 4 miles of school. • Of the 59 parents who provided an age, 59% live within 3 miles of school. Detailed Results for Selected Questions: Distance from School: Less than Y2 mile: ..................... 8 (5.7%) Y2 mile up to 1 mile: ................ 5 (3.5%) 1 mile up to 2 miles: ................ 24 (17.0%) 2 miles up to 3 miles: ............. 15(10.6%) 3 miles up to 4 miles: ............. 18(12.8%) 4 miles up to 5 miles: ............. 14(9.9%) More than 5 miles: ................... 53 (37.5%) No answer: ................................ 4 (2.8%) Issues that affect Walking/Biking Decisions* * NOTE: A large number of parents did not follow instructions on the multiple -column question on page 2. They were asked to check the boxes on the left side to indicate if an issue affects their decision to allow walking/biking. They were asked to check the boxes on the right side to indicate whether they would probably allow walking/biking if the issue was changed or improved. Many parents only answered the left or the right side. If they only answered the right side, I assumed they were checking the issues that cause them concern, rather than indicating which changes would alleviate their concerns. Comments: Comments from families who live under 5 miles from school: • I would love to have safe bike paths in Scandia. However, Hwy 97 is a major problem. • We are excited about having bike trails in Scandia. • Would consider if there were a bike path or sidewalk for them to ride on. • I would not allow my child(ren) to cross Hwy 97 by themselves. • We live on a secluded road with homes having 10 or more acres. Few people can see the road from their house. My children will not walk or ride their bikes to or from school. Our nearest bus stop is at least a mile away. Kids walking to school in the winter is crazy. If there isn't outside recess, how can kids walk to school? • I would probably still not let my children ride bikes to school, but we would love to see a trail system and would definitely use it as a family if it came close enough to our house. Nttntiber (percent) Yes who checked this issue No Not sure Speed of traffic along route 109(77%) 48(34%) 22(16%) 12(9%) Distance 103(73%) 47(31%) 22(16%) 12(9%) Aniou tit of traffic atong rouILI 102 (720/o) 46(33%) 22(1 6%) 8(6%) Safety of intersections and crossings 79 (561'k) 38(27%) 13'(9010) 5(35%) Sidewalks or pathways 75(53%) 5.0(35%) 6(4.%) 342%) Weather or climate 68(48%) 38(27%) 18(13%) 8(6%) Tinie 47(33%) 16(11%) 12(9%) 5(3.5%) Violence and chime 37(26%) 18(13%) 16(11%) 0 Adults to walk or bike with 3S(25%) 21(15%) 4(3%) 4(3%) Crossing guards 30 (210ib) 21(15%) 3(2%) 2(1%) Child's before or after-school ac ti of ti eS 17 (12%) 7(5%) 6(4%) 2(1%) Convenience of driving; 1 14(10%) 2(1%) 1 6(4%) 1(0.7010) * NOTE: A large number of parents did not follow instructions on the multiple -column question on page 2. They were asked to check the boxes on the left side to indicate if an issue affects their decision to allow walking/biking. They were asked to check the boxes on the right side to indicate whether they would probably allow walking/biking if the issue was changed or improved. Many parents only answered the left or the right side. If they only answered the right side, I assumed they were checking the issues that cause them concern, rather than indicating which changes would alleviate their concerns. Comments: Comments from families who live under 5 miles from school: • I would love to have safe bike paths in Scandia. However, Hwy 97 is a major problem. • We are excited about having bike trails in Scandia. • Would consider if there were a bike path or sidewalk for them to ride on. • I would not allow my child(ren) to cross Hwy 97 by themselves. • We live on a secluded road with homes having 10 or more acres. Few people can see the road from their house. My children will not walk or ride their bikes to or from school. Our nearest bus stop is at least a mile away. Kids walking to school in the winter is crazy. If there isn't outside recess, how can kids walk to school? • I would probably still not let my children ride bikes to school, but we would love to see a trail system and would definitely use it as a family if it came close enough to our house. • Olinda is a very busy road with small shoulders one way. If this road had a safe area to ride bikes, I would let my son ride bike with a neighbor to school during fall and spring. • I would love for my child to ride his bike to school as I did as a child. The traffic is just too heavy. There isn't a sidewalk or riding path. Would like to see that change to Oakhill Road. Even just a shoulder to have so the kids can ride. • I think an off-road bike trail alongside Olinda Trail would be an EXCELLENT idea. • I allow my child to bike or walk to/from school during the non-snowy/icy months, but I am concerned about safety and traffic along Hwy 97 (part of the route to school). I do not allow biking in the winter because I worry about the slippery conditions - dangerous for a biker on the shoulder of a busy highway. I might consider winter biking if there was a separate bike trail on Hwy. 97. • We would love to have a bike path down 97, due to the speed and the traffic that occurs. We would also like a connecting path to get to 95, which would connect to William O'Brian. • We live on Hwy 97 and unless a path were available, I would not feel safe to let my kids walk or bike on that road regardless of their ages. • It would be GREAT if we could provide bike paths along Scandia Trail (Hwy 97)!! • Walking and biking trails are a wonderful idea! I would love to have more in our area. • Hwy 97 and Oakhill is a dangerous (curves, speed, number of vehicles) intersection. Oakhill is now used as a thoroughfare. There is no posted speed limit; people drive fast and there is not shoulder. • Too far for my child to ride his bike to school with his backpack. • My son bikes with a group of classmates, meeting centrally at Scandia Store before school. I am always concerned with the kids needing to cross 97 to get to school. • My child is in kindergarten and will not be walking or biking to school for some time. • How about cutting half the bus routes, have kids walk or bike to central location. Save money - healthy - smart. • I would love to see a trail/sidewalk on our road (Nolan/Oakhill). • I love Scandia and the community, but because of people driving through that are not from the community, I would not allow my child to walk/bike to school. I just do not think that is safe to do anymore. • Hwy 97 is the only way to school. [checked would not be comfortable at any grade] • My children walk/bike to school but I have always been concerned about the speed and amount of traffic in front of the school. • We could have 4 siblings going to Scandia at once—we/they would rather have them be able to go together instead of 2 able to walk and 2 having to ride the bus. [indicated in survey that he/she would allow child to walk/bike to school without an adult starting in 3rd grade] • Has to cross 97. • Hwy 97 is a big problem for kids that live north of the highway. Also, traffic on all roads in Scandia needs to be slowed down. • If there was a sidewalk/path to school from our house, we would gladly let our kids use it to get to school/church/etc. • No sidewalks. Few streetlights. Too far from school. • I would not feel comfortable with my child walking/biking to school without adult supervision - paths or no paths. • Olinda is too busy to allow my children to bike on it. • It's a fun way to help kids get to know each other. Eliminate bus "drama"; motivates child. • We live too far for my children to walk or bike to school. (4-5 miles) • Due to the distance we are from school, I do not think this ever will be an option, especially with our weather. (4-5 miles) • We live on Hwy 95. Deer cannot safely walk this road. Comments from families who live 5 or more miles from school: • We live 9 miles from the school so it's not an option. I think it should be encouraged for those closer to the school—good and healthy for kids and saves on bussing. I know many districts won't bus if you live within a mile of the school (or maybe it's Y2 mile). • We live too far away from school to walk or bike. • I prefer bussing since my taxes are paying for that anyway. • We live much too far away to walk or bike. Also, path would be 2 main highways. It would be fun and good exercise if possible. I walked as a child. • The distance is just too far. But if we lived closer, I would certainly have her walk to school with other kids or by 4th grade or so (alone). • If we lived closer to the school, I would allow my children to walk or bike. I think other families would benefit from this. • Due to distance, it is too far for my children to walk. Crime levels are not high but kidnappings are always a concern. • Since we live closer to the Forest Lake side of the Scandia Elementary school zone, I'm not sure how much my child could ride on a trail. • We live too far out for bike riding to be an option. • We are too far to even consider the kids walking or biking. • We live too far away to bike or walk to school. • We live too far and travel a highway (97)—no way for us. • We live too far from school to consider walking or biking. • Because we live so far away and Scandia Trail (Hwy 97) is our only route to school, walking or biking would never be an option. • We are open enrolled at Scandia Elementary. Walking is not an option due to distance. • I like the idea of walking/biking, but we live too far away. • We live too far for the kids to walk. • I believe most parents in Scandia are pretty strict and wouldn't allow their kids to walk to school anyway. I have found most parents here to be very protective. It's kind of a real shame that most kids don't even play outside anymore unless parents are watching like hawks and hovering around. Maybe money could be better spent to build a trail to bike/walk on throughout the whole Scandia area. • A bike path would be great! • A trail for walking and biking would be nice as traveling on Hwy 97/Scandia Trail would be dangerous. At this point, our son is too young to do that though (ride alone).