SRTS programs directly benefit students, parents and teachers by creating a safer travel environment near schools and by reducing motor vehicle congestion at school drop-off and pick-up zones. Students that choose to bike or walk to school are rewarded with the responsibility and independence that comes from being in charge of the way they travel, and learn at an early age that biking and walking can be safe, enjoyable and good for the environment. Safe Routes to Schools programs offer ancillary benefits to neighborhoods by helping to slow traffic and by providing infrastructure improvements that facilitate biking and walking for everyone. Identifying and improving routes for children to safely walk and bicycle to school is also one of the most cost-effective means of reducing weekday morning traffic congestion and can help reduce auto-related pollution. In addition to safety and traffic improvements, a SRTS program helps integrate physical activity into the everyday rzoutine of school children. Health concerns related to sedentary lifestyles have become the focus of statewide and national efforts to reduce health risks associated with being overweight. Children who bike or walk to school have an overall higher activity level than those who are driven to school, even though the journey to school makes only a small contribution to activity levels. Active kids are healthy kids. Walking or bicycling to school is an easy way to make sure that children get daily physical activity.