CHAPTER 5: STRENGTHS – BARRIERS – OPPORTUNITIES ANALYSIS A strengths, barriers, and opportunities analysis of existing policies and programs related to walking and bicycling to school was also performed. This is similar to a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) but tailored for use in SRTS planning. The comments in the following tables are not edited and are not listed in any priority order.
STRENGTHS The primary existing strengths within the community are the use of programming, stakeholders, infrastructure, as well as the school’s location contiguous with the City of Ashby. These strengths that enhance and support the opportunity for children to safely walk and bicycle to school are listed in greater detail in Table 2 below. Recommendations to improve SRTS in this report are built off of these strengths. Recommendations to improve SRTS found in Chapter 9 of this report are built off of many of these strengths. Table 2: Community and School District Strengths
Community Strengths 1
Key stakeholders are involved in the planning process.
2
In the past, the school principal has been proactive in developing education and encouragement activities at school.
3
Children can more safely cross the intersection of Main Street and Birch Street due to the presence of bump-outs.
4
The school is located within Ashby city limits and contiguous with built up parts of the city. This makes the school readily accessible from all neighborhoods in Ashby for those on foot and by bike.
5
The Central Lakes Trail (CLT) is utilized as a route to school by many students.
6
The City of Ashby has a dedicated Police Department to assist with enforcement, education and encouragement.
7
A large percentage of the sidewalks in downtown Ashby are in acceptable condition.
8
The Country View Estates subdivision is connected to downtown Ashby via the Central Lakes Trail.
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