Waynesboro Walk and Wheel is the umbrella organization for two programs: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and the Healthy Community Action Team (HCAT). These two programs have different missions but share a common vision: active, healthy, and improved quality of life for Waynesboro youth.

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SRTS’s mission is to encourage and enable Waynesboro youth to walk or bike to school and other neighborhood destinations. We achieve this by:

• Providing hands-on bicycle and pedestrian safety skills instruction to Waynesboro youth. We supply the bikes, helmets, and expertise to teach children how to ride and ride safely. We also provide opportunities for students to practice those skills through guided bicycle rides and walks or hikes.

• Advocating for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements -- such as sidewalks, crosswalks and crossing signals, bike paths and bike lanes – to make bicycling and walking in Waynesboro safer and easier.

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HCAT’s mission is to reduce childhood obesity in Waynesboro. Currently more than 20 percent of Waynesboro youth ages 5-17 have obesity, which is above both the state and national averages. The HCAT will achieve obesity reduction primarily by encouraging and making it easier for youth to “move more” – in other words, get more regular exercise to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Increasing youth walking and biking is part of this effort. The HCAT will also provide resources on nutrition to facilitate healthy eating habits for families and youth.

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Waynesboro Walk and Wheel’s members include numerous city departments, community organizations, and individual citizens. Together, we are working to make healthy choices easier for Waynesboro’s youth so they can lead active and healthy lives.

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What we do:

• Provide hands-on pedestrian and bicycle safety education to youth

• Create activities for youth to have more opportunities to move more, such as organized bike rides, hikes, running clubs

• Serve as a clearinghouse of recreational assets and opportunities in Waynesboro

• Advocate for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements to make walking and biking safer in Waynesboro

• Provide information and resources on healthy nutrition and healthy food resources in Waynesboro

• Advocate for policy changes to improve youth nutrition in Waynesboro