Comprehensive active transportation initiatives that combine what are commonly called the 6 E’s are more effective at getting more people to regularly walk, bicycle, and roll (e.g. wheelchair, non-motorized scooter, skateboard, etc.) for transportation than any single, isolated effort. The 6 E’s are Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, Evaluation, and Equity. Each Fact Sheet contains simple definitions, sample activities, and considerations for ATP planners and implementers as well as the communities that they serve.
Safe Routes to School is an international movement to make walking and bicycling to school safer and more accessible for children, including those with disabilities, and to increase the number of children who routinely walk, bicycle, or roll (e.g. wheelchair, scooter, skateboard, etc.) to and from school. Safe Routes to School programs can benefit communities by enhancing children’s health, well-being, and academic performance; easing traffic congestion and air quality near schools, and improving community social cohesion and quality of life.
Guides and Toolkits
- Safe Routes to School Basics Toolkit (March 2019)
The California Active Transportation Resource Center (ATRC) has gathered this selection of resources into a single printable 29-page toolkit to assist those who are new to Safe Routes to School with starting and sustaining a range of Safe Routes to School activities.
- Safe Routes to School Programs in Rural California: A Guide for Communities and Partners
This 67-page guide addresses the challenges of safe walking and bicycling to and from school in rural California. The guide provides resources to help communities address those challenges through launching a SRTS program to conducting high-level planning for SRTS projects, as well as learning how other rural California communities have established and maintained successful SRTS programs.
- Creating Safe Routes to Schools in Tribal Communities
This 31-page guide for California’s tribal communities addresses how tribes can develop a SRTS program and apply for public funds to support that SRTS program. This guide outlines some of the key steps to addressing the challenges to accessing SRTS funds as well as opportunities for tribes to consider when exploring options for SRTS activities for children and families in Indian Country in California. Topics address gathering data and conducting community outreach; examples of activities that have been conducted in Tribal communities; and strategies for developing a SRTS plan.
- Creating Safe Walking and Bicycling Communities: Safe Routes to School Decision Maker Toolkit
This on-line guide explains active transportation and the conditions in a community that support safe walking and bicycling to schools and other neighborhood destinations. It offers tools for local governments to support active transportation. Because decisions about transportation investments in California occur across an array of agencies, the guide explains the regional and state context within which local leaders can collaborate to create safer walking and bicycling environments.
- Communication and Planning Guide: Where the Needs of School Principals and Safe Routes to School Programs Intersect
Developed with input from California school principals, this resource highlights solutions to the most common barriers identified by principals and vice-principals to supporting a SRTS program including: traffic safety, lack of funding for programs, and infrastructure concerns. The toolkit includes information to help SRTS champions and program leaders think through effective communication strategies when approaching and engaging school principals, as well as a companion sheet that provides tips and guidance to developing an effective relationship with school principals.
Curricula and Activity Guides
- California Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum (4th and 5th grades)
This curriculum developed by the California Department of Public Health in partnership with the California Department of Education’s Healthy Kids Resource Center, emphasizes the importance of physical activity, encourages students to develop healthy habits that benefit both their physical and academic development, and teaches skills and knowledge to decrease pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. To facilitate teaching of the Curriculum, each of the nine lessons is aligned with the California Common Core State Standards, the National Health Education Standards, and the California Health Education Standards, and is integrated with English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education. The Curriculum is the first of its kind to be approved by Caltrans, the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education. (2015 publication)
- Step by Step: How to Start a Walking School Bus at Your School
- How to Get a Bike Train Rolling at Your School
- Safe Routes to School and Student Leaders: Facilitator’s Guide to Engaging Middle School Youth
Materials/Templates
- Safe Routes to School Infographic
Share how Safe Routes to School programs benefit our communities in a one-page infographic! Print and post this eye-catching infographic, a colorful compilation of California landmarks and easy-to-read facts. Inspire walking and bicycling to school through evidence that demonstrates how SRTS improves students’ health and well- being, reduces traffic congestions and pollution, increases physical activity for the whole community, and more.
- Customizable Walk, Bike and Roll to School Promotion Materials and SRTS logos:
SRTS Related Case Studies, Vignettes, and Success Stories
- Safe Routes to School in California (Case Studies)
Two in-depth case studies showcase different models for implementing successful SRTS programs. These case studies from the City of Chula Vista and Sacramento County were prepared in partnership with the Cities Counties and Schools Partnership.
- California SRTS Program Vignettes - Easy to read one-page vignettes profiling diverse SRTS program models from throughout California!
- SRTS Success Stories – Brief snap-shots of local SRTS efforts resulting in increased walking and bicycling and improve safety around the state.
- Go Human – The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) invites local cities, agencies and community organizations to participate in the Go Human campaign. If you are outside of the SCAG region, you may request print-ready files for products such as lawn signs, banners, or postcards. These items can then be co-branded with your agency’s logo.
- Share the Road, Arrive Alive! - "Share the Road - Arrive Alive" is a series of public service announcements appearing on TV, radio, and in theaters to raise awareness about pedestrian, bicycle, and driver traffic safety. Characters Carly, Walker, and Ryder share traffic safety tips in this series produced by Caltrans District 1 with funding from the Federal Highway Administration.
- Go Safely, California - The marketing tools offer a way to expand the California Office of Traffic Safety’s Go Safely California campaign through traditional and social media. OTS encourage local and state traffic safety advocates to download and use these traffic safety materials throughout the year. These FREE resources are also available for parents, teachers, caregivers and anyone who wants to make a difference in their communities.
- It's Up to All of Us Campaign/WalkSmartCA – The California Department of Public Health with funding support from the Office of Traffic Safety has customizable print materials to support safe walking initiatives. Materials are available in English and Spanish, and CDPH has also prepared companion Public Education Campaign Guide.
- Street Smarts - The Street Smarts campaign was initially created in 2002 by the City of San José Department of Transportation with input from local and national highway safety, law enforcement, and Department of Transportation resources. San Jose shared the program with other municipalities as a service to increase the program's effectiveness across California.
- Go Human – Events - Developed by SCAG, the Go Human campaign encourages people to walk and bike by hosting open streets events and safety demonstration projects. These events and projects showcase re-designed streets with safety in mind, highlighting improvements like protected bike lanes and enhanced crosswalks. Community members experience for themselves what potential or planned infrastructure changes can look and feel like, and have the opportunity to share feedback with city staff.
- The Open Streets Project – Visit this link to learn Open Streets event basics including Getting Started, Planning Your Route, Funding Your Program, Marketing, Logistics, and Evaluation.
- The Open Streets Guide - This guide includes an introduction, an Open Streets best practices overview, over 60 case studies organized into a typology of seven common model types, and graphics that summarize findings from Open Streets research conducted by two national non-profits, the Alliance for Biking and Walking, and The Street Plans Collaborative.
- Tactical Urbanism and Safe Routes to School - The Safe Routes Partnership has two fact sheets: The first outlines how pop-up projects can be used to advance Safe Routes to School projects, and the second addresses how to conduct a pop-up Safe Routes to School project in your community.
The following project profiles highlight agencies' successes in their completed ATP projects which increase use of active modes of transportation. These resources aim to capture project details and outcomes from these successfully implemented projects and will be added to periodically.
An agency may request to have a Project Profile posted once the project is complete by contacting atp-ni@dot.ca.gov.