What is Safe Routes to School?
Safe Routes to School programs are designed to decrease traffic and pollution and increase the health of children and the community. The program promotes safe walking and biking to school through education, community engagement, and encouragement to increase the appeal of alternative transportation. The program also addresses the safety concerns of parents by encouraging greater enforcement of traffic laws, educating the public, and exploring ways to create safer routes to school.
Read and download materials about why Safe Routes to School matters.
Sonoma County Safe Routes to School Program:
Safe Routes to Schools Sonoma County, spearheaded by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition (SCBC), is a collaboration of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, the Sonoma County Department of Public Health (DHS), the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA), and many other local agencies and organizations. The program provides online resources and customized support; while working together with schools, parents, and the local community to give children an active, healthy start and end to the school day, improve safe transportation practices, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the health of the community and the environment.
Download resources to start your own Safe Routes to School program here. Safe Routes to School programs are comprised of the five “E”s:
- ENCOURAGEMENT — Programs and campaigns to promote more walking/bicycling at your school
- EDUCATION — View and download Safe Routes to School curriculum resources
- ENGINEERING — Read about sources of funding for infrastructure improvements in your community
- ENFORCEMENT — Read about how law enforcement can support Safe Routes to School programs
- EVALUATION — Download resources to determine how kids currently travel to school, what current barriers are to walking/biking in your community, and to evaluate the program effectiveness.
Do you want guidance on how to start a Safe Routes to School program in your community?
The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition offers technical support to assist you in developing a comprehensive program that will fit the needs of your community.
For more information about starting a SRTS program in your school, or to find out about funding opportunities, contact us at 707-545-0153 or saferoutes@bikesonoma.org.
The Sonoma County Safe Routes to Schools Program is funded in part with a grant from Measure M — Sonoma County's quarter cent transportation sales tax, administered by SCTA. Additional grants from the state and federal Safe Routes to School program are currently funding non-infrastructure programs in the Sebastopol Unified School District, Bellevue Union School District, Roseland School District, Santa Rosa City School District, as well as engineering/infrastructure improvements in a variety of locations.
