Focus Areas

Safe Routes to School

The goal of Safe Routes to School is to get more children bicycling and walking to schools safely on an everyday basis. 

What Is Safe Routes to School?

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from schools. The program has been designed to reverse the decline in children walking and bicycling to schools. Safe Routes to School can also play a critical role in reversing the alarming nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and inactivity.

In 1969, approximately 50 percent of children walked or bicycled to school, with approximately 87 percent of children living within one mile of school walking or bicycling. Today, fewer than 15 percent of schoolchildren walk or bicycle to school. As a result, kids today are less active, less independent, and less healthy. As much as 20 percent to 30 percent of morning traffic can be generated by parents driving their children to schools, and traffic-related crashes are the top cause of death and major injury for children ages 1 to 17 in the U.S.

Concerned by the long-term health and traffic consequences of this trend, in 2005 – the U.S. Congress approved $612 million in funding for five years of state implementation of SRTS programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Congress extended the program at $183 million per year starting in FY2010 until a long-term transportation reauthorization is complete. Communities are using this funding to construct new bicycle lanes, pathways and sidewalks, as well as to launch Safe Routes to School education, promotion and enforcement campaigns in elementary and middle schools.

Be Part of the Safe Routes Movement

Safe Routes to School programs are built on collaborative partnerships among many stakeholders that should include educators, parent, students, elected officials, engineers, city planners and engineers, business and community leaders, health officials, and bicycle and pedestrian advocates. And the most successful SRTS programs incorporate the five E’s: evaluation, education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement.

Find out more about collaboration and creation for Safe Routes to School from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and read more about our commitment to safe routes with our resolution.