Strategies > Transportation Demand Management > Active Travel to School
Active Travel to School
Photo: pedbikeimages.org/ Toole Design
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Active travel to school involves a number of potential components to make it safer to walk or bicycling to school, including improvements to the physical environment, providing education and training materials, and hosting events that encourage active travel.
Safe Routes to School is one of the most well-known active travel to school programs. Walking school buses (pictured, left) are an example of a tactic used by Safe Routes to School. Walking schools buses have a fixed route with designated stops and pick up times when children can join adult chaperones. |
Proven Outcomes
Increased Walking
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Increased Bicycling
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Increased Physical Activity
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Reduced Risk of Injury
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Active travel to school is a recommended strategy for increasing walking and bicycling, increasing physical activity, and reducing traffic-related risks of injury (Community Guide, 2018). Safe Routes to School and Walking School buses are scientifically supported strategies for increasing walking and bicycling and increasing physical activity (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2017; County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2019).
Likely Outcomes
Improved Health Outcomes
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Reduced VMT
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Reduced Air Pollution
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Reduced GHG
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Improved Sense of Community
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The potential co-benefits associated with active travel to school are improved health outcomes, reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and an improved sense of community. Walking school buses may also increase academic achievement (Community Guide, 2018; County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2019; County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2017).
Equity and Inclusion
Low-income communities, communities of color, and rural areas have unique barriers to participation. Traditionally, the 6 "Es" of Safe Routes to School has been Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation and Engineering. However, law enforcement can be problematic for many communities, particularly communities of color. As a result, the Safe Routes Partnership has removed Enforcement from their framework as they no longer see Enforcement as a foundational element of ensuring traffic safety. See this Transportation Equity Caucus fact sheet for a similar call to evaluate the role of enforcement in traffic safety programs. Consider the relationship your community has to law enforcement in order to appropriately engage with the community.
Complementary Strategies
Implementation Guidance
Guides & Reports
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Building blocks: A guide to starting and growing a Safe Routes to School Program Safe Routes Partnership, 2019 School siting, safe routes to school implementation, and neighborhood revitalization Tennessee Department of Health, n.d. Research Reports & Briefs
What makes a "biking" school? How some schools have pulled ahead in cycling rates Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, 2020 Fact Sheets & Infographics
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Safe Routes to School Programs (Transportation and Health Tool) US Department of Transportation, 2015 Promoting active transportation: An opportunity for public health Safe Routes Partnership & the American Public Health Association, 2012 |
Making strides: 2020 state report cards on support for walking, bicycling, and active kids and communities Safe Routes Partnership, 2020 Bringing Safe Routes to School to the Modesto Airport Neighborhood [Case study] Safe Routes Partnership, 2018 |