What is Safe Routes to School?

Safe Routes to School programs integrate safety, fitness, health, traffic relief, and environmental awareness in an effort to get more children biking and walking to school. It encourages schools, communities, and local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.

Currently, only about 13% of American children bike or walk to school, yet 30 years ago, more than 66% did. Children that bike or walk to school have a sense of freedom and responsibility. It allows them to enjoy the fresh air and provides the opportunity to get to know their neighborhood while arriving at school alert and ready to start their day.

According to recent research, 20-25% of morning traffic is the result of parents driving their children to school. This results in traffic congestion increasing around schools prompting even more parents to drive their children to school. The impacts to our children's health and community well being are wide-ranging.

Safe Routes to School programs are happening in dozens of countries worldwide. In cities and towns across the U.S. participation rates vary from a few students to thousands.

If you want to start a program, increase participation in your community (or simply learn more), this web site can provide the necessary tools and resources to make your program a success.

About us

Our goal is to successfully train and assist as many schools as possible across the state in order to plan and implement Safe Routes to School programs. See What We Offer page for details. Participation is Free!

This website provides information about Existing Safe Routes Programs, information on starting your own Safe Routes program (including Workshops you can take, along with a "starter kit" that you can get for free from the Bicycle Alliance), and links to existing programs and other relevant information.

Dave Janis is the Safe Routes Program Manager at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Please feel free to contact him for more information.

This Safe Routes to School website was created and is maintained by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. The Safe Routes to School program was initially funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, in 2005. In 2006, a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation has enabled the program to be expanded and managed by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington in partnership with Feet First.

Photo credits: Photographs displayed herein are the property of their copyright holders and are displayed with permission. The SR2S logo picture is of Brendan Inkley, taken by Andy Goulding. All other photos are from Mark Davison.

Note: throughout this site, purple links will take you to an external web page; green links take you to another spot within this website.

Bicycle Alliance of Washington 206.224.9252 PO Box 2904 - Seattle WA 98111 311 3rd Avenue S - Seattle WA 98104 info@bicyclealliance.org