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Safe Routes to School Program

Kids parking their bikes at a bike rack in front of school

The City of Vancouver envisions a future where walking, rolling, biking and small mobility options are safe, convenient, accessible and desirable for all students and families to get to and from school and around their neighborhoods. To get there, we are starting a Safe Routes to School program.

What is a Safe Routes to School program?

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national program designed to make active transportation options safe, convenient and fun for children traveling to and from school. Vancouver’s Transportation System Plan calls on City staff to develop a SRTS program that encourages students and caregivers to walk, roll and bike to school along safe paths. It’s another way the City can reduce congestion in neighborhoods, boost community health, reduce emissions and make sure students can access safe streets.

Program goals

The goals for the City of Vancouver SRTS program focus on the “Six Es” of a successful Safe Routes program:

Engagement

Listen to students, families, teachers, school leaders and community organizations to be responsive to the needs and perspectives of the community. Build opportunities to share ideas.

Equity

Ensure SRTS initiatives benefit all students. Use data to prioritize students at schools that are most impacted by unsafe traffic issues.

Encouragement

Get students and their families interested in walking, rolling and biking to school through events and activities.

Engineering

Fund, build and support street improvements that make walking, rolling and biking to school safer, more comfortable, more convenient and more fun.

Education

Teach bike safety skills at school. Teach drivers about school zone safety. Share information about transportation options and the associated benefits.

Evaluation

Track the progress of the program and monitor which efforts are effective and what can be improved.

Why is Safe Routes to School important?

Fewer kids walk and bike to school today than they did 50 years ago

SRTS programs can help more students walk, bike or roll to school by

SRTS programs make streets safer and more comfortable for everyone

Get involved

Questions or comments

Email the program team at: VancouverMoves@cityofvancouver.us

1National Center for Safe Routes to School. 2011. How children get to school: School Travel Patterns From 1969 to 2009. PedBikeInfo.com www.pedbikeinfo.org/pdf/NHTS_school_travel_report_2011_0.pdf