TxDOT Gives EPISD $4.7 Mil To Teach Bike Safety; Money Well Spent?
It was the teachers being taught at MacArthur Elementary School Thursday morning.
P.E. coaches from all over the El Paso Independent School District learned bike and pedestrian safety to pass along to students.
EPISD was given a two-year, $4.7 million grant from “Safe Routes,” a program of the Texas Department of Transportation.
“The mission of this program is to increase the number of children walking and biking to school,” said Leticia Segura, Assistant Director for Safe Routes at EPISD.
On its website, Safe Routes said the percentage of children who walk or ride to school has taken a nose dive over the last 40 decades, slipping from 50% of students to 15% today.
The program aims to push students toward healthier lifestyles.
EPISD will spread the millions over 47 elementary school campuses with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders being the intended targets. The district told ABC-7 more than 12,000 bicycles will be given away.
But on the kvia.com Facebook page, some viewers questioned whether the state, with its money troubles, should be using money this way.
“I think parents should be the ones (teaching bike safety),” wrote one viewer.
“How about $4.7 million to teach reading, writing, math and science?” asked another.
TxDOT doesn’t feel the the money is going to waste.
Safe Routes maintains approximately 35% of Texas school-age children are overweight or obese, leading to health problems and, ultimately, health costs incurred by the state.
