Safe Routes to Schools Oshkosh

The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) movement is huge across the country, and it makes obvious sense - We want our kids to safely be able to get to school without the need for a vehicle.


Oshkosh planning has somewhat quietly been underway many months now, under the valuable leadership of Melissa Kraemer Badtke with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. As a partnership between the Oshkosh Police Dept, the Oshkosh Area School District, the City of Oshkosh, and the WI Dept of Transportation (funding grant opportunities), the program "encourage(s) children ages K-8 to walk and bike to school by creating safer walking and biking routes".


Extensive maps have been developed indicating areas that are in need of improvements, such as added signs, cross walks, bike paths, crossing guards, slower traffic, questionable neighbors, scary dogs, etc. An example of an area in great need of improved child safety is the corner of Parkway and Monroe, which serves as a child-traffic center with Head Start and the Boys & Girls club on the corner, in addition to Webster Stanley and Menominee Park nearby.




Missing from this corner is any indication that hundreds of kids cross this intersection each day, such as cross walks, a sign indicating a crossing, a bike lane, or even a speed bump.

The next meeting of the SRTS committee is Tuesday, August 12th at 9:00 a.m. at Jefferson Elementary School and is open to anyone interested in making this city a better and safer community.