Policy & funding

Getting More Students to Walk and Bicycle: Four Elements of Successful Programs

Though some Safe Routes to School programs have to address safety problems first, most programs ultimately aim to increase walking and bicycling among students. Some programs yield a greater response than imagined; others start out by showing great promise, but end up not reaching their goals.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School, in an effort to better understand what factors might contribute to increases in walking and bicycling, examined programs for elements linked to measured walking and bicycling outcomes.

Authoring Organization: 
National Center for Safe Routes to School
Resource File: 
application/pdf iconGetting-More-Students-to-Walk-and-Bicycle-for-Practitioners.pdf

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Community problems & solutions Encouragement Evaluation Making the case Policy & funding Program organization

Fall 2011 Mini-grant Call for Applications

Safe Routes Matters: 
March/April 2011

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for 25 mini-grants of $1,000 each. These mini-grants support the goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, which is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. SRTS programs are implemented nationwide by parents, students, schools, community leaders, and local, state, and tribal governments. Applications are due Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

Safe Routes to School Noteworthy Practices Guide: A Compendium of State SRTS Program Practices

In 2005, the United States Congress established the national Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program in Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Through a combination of engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation strategies, the program was developed to address traffic safety, traffic congestion and air quality issues around schools, while also acknowledging the health benefits of active school travel.

Resource File: 
application/pdf iconSRTS Noteworthy Practices Guide FINAL.pdf

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Community problems & solutions Education Evaluation Making the case Policy & funding Program organization

Working Together to Advance Safe Routes to School

Have you ever been confused about who does what to advance Safe Routes to School?

Authoring Organization: 
National Center for Safe Routes to School and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Resource File: 
application/pdf iconSRTS_working_together.pdf

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Education Policy & funding Program organization

New Resource from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: School Policies and Practices to Improve Health and Prevent Obesity: National Elementary School Survey Results

Safe Routes Matters: 
January/February 2011

New Resource from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership: 2011–2015 Strategic Plan

Safe Routes Matters: 
January/February 2011

Photo of Strategic PlanThe Safe Routes to School National Partnership has released the organization's final 2011–2015 Strategic Plan (PDF, 1.8 MB).

New Resource from the National Center: Winter 2010 SRTS Program Tracking Brief

Safe Routes Matters: 
January/February 2011

Winter 2010 Snapshot: States Continue to Grow Their SRTS Programs

News Brief: Childhood Obesity Task Force Unveils Action Plan — Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation

Safe Routes Matters: 
March/April 2010

New Report: Helping Johnny Walk to School: Policy Recommendations for Removing Barriers to Community-Centered Schools (National Trust for Historic Preservation)

Safe Routes Matters: 
January/February 2010
Photo of Helping Johnny Walk to School

How can we encourage more community-centered schools or in other words "get safe routes to school the first time around"?

Industry News Brief: U.S. DOT Secretary Marks "End of Favoring Motorized Transportation"

Safe Routes Matters: 
January/February 2010

On Mon., March 15th, Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations.

Secretary LaHood announced policy revisions with the following statement, "I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized."