About the Partnership
The Partnership for Active Transportation is a unique collaboration of organizations working at the intersection of transportation, public health and community vitality to promote greater investment in creating safe trail, walking and bicycling networks for all, and facilitating greater physical activity through active transportation.
Active transportation—human powered mobility such as walking and bicycling—increases physical activity, provides balanced transportation choices, and fosters economically vibrant communities with a high quality of life.
Leadership Council
The Leadership Council is a core group of national organizations dedicated to fostering healthy places for healthy people by building a broad-based movement at the local, state and national levels to support active transportation in all relevant policies.
AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for issues that matter most to families such as health care, employment and income security, retirement planning, afforable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news, and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.AARP.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Espanol, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affilited charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income, and isolation. AARP has staffed offices in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands.
The American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve public health since 1872. The Association aims to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA recognizes that effective transportation and land-use strategies can not only improve the health and well-being of Americans but also decrease demand on an already overextended health care system. APHA champions primary prevention by promoting the scientific foundation of public health policy and evidence-based practices to increase opportunities for active transportation.
America Walks
America Walks (AW) is a national nonprofit organization that works collaboratively to make America a great place to walk. We foster walkable communities by engaging, educating and connecting diverse stakeholders to advance policies and implement effective community campaigns. Our vision is by 2020, walking in everyday life is embraced across America. Streets and neighborhoods are safe and attractive public places that encourage people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities and incomes to walk for transportation, exercise and recreation. Walkable community policies promote health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability and social equity.
LOCUS
LOCUS is the national coalition of real estate developers and investors who advocate for sustainable, equitable, walkable development in America’s metropolitan areas. Around the country, real estate developers and investors recognize pent-up demand for and a market shift toward sustainable, walkable urban places. Homebuyers and businesses increasingly want smart growth development and LOCUS members understand these trends. Despite this market momentum, many local, state and federal policies currently in place hamper efforts to create the development our consumers want and which support strong local economies. LOCUS serves as a vital real estate development voice that guides public policy towards market driven trends that are more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable for America’s future. As real estate developers and investors, LOCUS members bring hands-on experience and expertise on how America can create more jobs, increase property values and provide sustainable economic growth.
Project for Public Spaces
Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build strong communities. We are the central hub of the global placemaking movement, connecting people to ideas, resources, expertise, and partners who see place as the key to addressing our greatest challenges. Our pioneering placemaking approach helps citizens transform their public spaces into vital places that highlight local assets, spur rejuvenation, and serve common needs.
Trust for America’s Health
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community and makes the prevention of illness and injury a national priority. TFAH works with traditional and new partners on high impact health issues, reporting on and recommending evidence-based programs and policies that make prevention and health equity foundational to health and community systems at all levels of society.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. As the voice of more than 150,000 members and supporters, RTC advocates for trail-friendly policies at the federal, state and local levels, as well as in the courts, and works at the forefront of trail development in communities of all sizes, rural and urban, around the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with four regional offices, RTC is committed to promoting active transportation as a cost-effective means of improving mobility, increasing access to transportation choices, facilitating regular physical activity, generating economic vitality, reducing congestion and air pollution, and so much more.
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee of the Partnership for Active Transportation is a team of experts who support greater investment in active transportation networks and provide assistance to the Partnership on an as needed basis as appropriate to the individual.
Richard J Jackson, MD
Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
Richard Joseph Jackson is Professor and Chair of Environmental Health Sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dick Jackson lectures and speaks on many issues, particularly those related to built environment and health. He co-authored two Island Press Books: Urban Sprawl and Public Health in 2004 and Making Healthy Places in 2011. He is host of a 2012 public television series Designing Healthy Communities which links to the J Wiley & Sons book by the same name published in October, 2011.
Wade Henderson
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Leadership Conference Education Fund
"The Partnership for Active Transportation seeks to provide enhanced access for all people. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is proud to lead a caucus of transportation professionals seeking greater equity. We join with the Partnership in their efforts to develop great communities that are accessible to everyone by healthy, safe active transportation."
Ted Eytan, MD
Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health
"Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest non-profit integrated health system, is part of the Partnership for Active Transportation because of the health and other benefits of integrating physical activity into our daily lives. Assuring access to safe walkable/bikeable routes and destinations is essential to promoting total health among our members, communities, and our society."
Greg Cox
Supervisor, San Diego County, California
"San Diego County is routinely cited as one of the best places to walk and bike. We didn't do it alone. We used private, local government, county, state and federal funds as part of our community-wide efforts for better walking and biking. Please help me and the Partnership for Active Transportation secure more investment in safe, healthy active transportation."
Marc Berejka
REI, Inc.
"REI is pleased to play a significant role in the outdoor recreation economy – a sector that directly supports over 6 million jobs across the U.S. For the outdoor sector to thrive, and for the sake of our customers, we encourage the development and use of trails for transportation and recreation. So, we are happy to support the Partnership for Active Transportation in its efforts to create more outdoor places where people can be healthy and active."
Lee Fisher
CEOs for Cities
Lee Fisher is the President and CEO of CEOs for Cities, as well as a Senior Fellow with the Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. CEOs for Cities is a learning community and partnership network that connects urban leaders to each other and to smart ideas and practices for making cities more vibrant, sustainable, and economically successful. In 2013 CEOs for Cities published the Green Dividend™ Report which explores the growing market demand for urban living and for the kinds of cities and neighborhoods that enable households to utilize alternative modes of transportation—walking, cycling and transit—and to earn the Green Dividend™.
Howard Frumkin
School of Public Health, University of Washington
Howard Frumkin is Dean and Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Washington. His work focuses on public health aspects of the built environment, climate change, energy policy and environmental health policy. He is the author or co-author of over 200 scientific journal articles and chapters, and his books include Urban Sprawl and Public Health (2004), Environmental Health: From Global to Local (2005 and 2010), Green Healthcare Institutions: Health, Environment, Economics (2007), and Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, Well-Being, and Sustainability (2011).
Russell Pate, Ph.D.
Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
Russell Pate is a professor in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, and he serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance. His research is focused on physical activity and its promotion in children and youth. He is a former President of the American College of Sports Medicine, and he has served on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee as well as on a series of Institute of Medicine panels addressing prevention of childhood obesity. He sees promotion of active transport as one of the essential strategies in the overall effort to increase the physical activity levels of Americans.
A Broad Network of Partner Organizations
The heart of the Partnership for Active Transportation is a broad-based national network of organizations across America committed to building healthy places for healthy people through increased public investment in active transportation.
Any local, state or national organization—nonprofit, private sector or public sector—committed to the policies and principles expressed in Safe Routes to Everywhere is encouraged to join the movement by endorsing the policy platform.
The Partnership reserves the right to not list organizations whose mission or primary activities conflict with the mission or guiding principles of the Partnership.
Are you an elected official? We welcome you to endorse the platform as well! Just sign the endorsement as the mayor, county commissioner or whichever position you hold for your community.
What About Individuals?
If you are an individual, there are many other ways to join the movement!
- To start, join Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) advocacy list. RTC is coordinating this coalition effort and will notify individual supporters of opportunities to speak up whenever there’s a need.
- Sign up to receive notices from any of the other Partnership platform sponsors. All of these groups are working tirelessly to advance public, economic and community health at various levels.
- Contact your elected officials! Mayors, city council members, governors and your federal congressional representatives all need to hear from you about the benefits that active transportation provides to your community. Don’t be shy! Email, call and even schedule in-person meetings. Keep us updated on your advocacy efforts!
About The Partnership
We're a broad-based coalition of nonprofit, for-profit and public sector entities working together to create healthier places for healthier people by supporting increased public investment in walking and bicycling as essential modes of transportation.
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