Thousands of Sioux Falls children walk or ride their bikes to school, especially now that spring is here. But even in school zones, not all areas are safe; many aren't controlled with flashing lights or crosswalks. That's why the city is applying for a federal grant to put more safeguards in place.

"I believe it's important as a parent and a community member to have our kids be more active, and one way to do that is to walk and bike to school," mother Sharon Chantos said.

Chantos' kids go to St. Mary's Catholic School in Sioux Falls, and she's hoping to funnel some grant money into her neighborhood in the future. Although the family lives just eight blocks from school, Chantos won't let her kids walk or bike to school because of one busy intersection.

“There's too much traffic and there's not a stoplight at that intersection, and although my 12-year-old has good judgement as to when to cross the street, my seven-year-old son does not," Chantos said.

The city hopes to receive $140,000 from the Safe Routes to School program to install lights and crosswalks near seven Sioux Falls elementary schools. Parents of children at these schools were asked to fill out a survey about how their kids get to school and what would make those routes less dangerous.

Chantos says if there were a crosswalk with lights at the busy intersection her children must cross to get to school, she would definitely let them walk.

"In order for them to walk and bike to school, we need to remove the hazards and facilitate a safe way for them to get to school," Chantos said.

The grant money would be used to make improvements to both public and private schools. Last year, the city received $148,000 in grant money for crosswalks and lights near four elementary schools. Work on that will begin this spring.