Anchorage, Alaska, has a winter dark period lasting from October
until April, in which the sun rises as late as 10:00 a.m. and
sets as early as 3:30 p.m. The lack of visibility creates
hazardous conditions for students walking or bicycling to school
or to the bus stop. Through data review and research, the Alaska
Injury Prevention Center (AIPC) has determined the high risk
areas and implemented programs to aid students in a safer travel
to and from school. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) activities
in the Anchorage School District began in 2000 with Walk to
School Day. For the first two years, the schools sent
walkability checklists to parents to fill out after taking their
children to the bus stop or to school. After analyzing the
checklist data the AIPC found that the major risks facing
students were the conditions that make it difficult for drivers
to see children walking such as the long winter dark periods and
lack of street lighting. To address these issues, the AIPC
decided the most effective approach