Resources | Non-Infrastructure
Safe Routes to School
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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.
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)
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:
- California Walk, Bike, Roll Poster (11×17) (Word). Note that this poster uses “Word Art.” Select the text you wish to edit and type directly into the field, or right click the selected text and choose “edit text.”
- Poster (8.5 x 11) (Word)
- Poster (8.5 x 14) (Word)
- Punch Card (Word)
- Parent Flyer (Word)
- Parent Flyer (PDF)
- Parent Flyer_Spanish (Word)
- Parent Flyer_Chinese (Word)
- Parent Flyer_Korean (Word)
- Parent Flyer_Hmong (Word)
- Safe Routes to School California logos
Our Safe Routes to School California logo is available for use by any jurisdiction or organization working on Safe Routes to School projects in their community. These downloadable logos can be customized with your organization’s name. Please email ATRC@dot.ca.gov with the subject SRTS Logo request for more information.