What is Safe Routes to School (SRTS)?

SRTS is a rising international effort to increase safety and promote walking and bicycling to school through the “5Es: engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation." The 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) federal transportation bill included a new SRTS federal funding source of $612 million over five years for both infrastructure and noninfrastructure reimbursement grants.

Reasons for the program

During the past two to three decades, there has been an incredible rise in obesity and physical inactivity in children and adults. The impact on health and health-care costs is high and will continue to rise dramatically. In 1969, roughly half of all children walked or biked to school. Now, it is about 15 percent. For school trips less than one mile, 29 percent walk or bike. There is a strong correlation between communities with good bicycle and pedestrian environments, and having more active residents. Air quality and traffic congestion around schools has also become an issue.

Watch the Safe Routes to School video

View the Safe Routes to School PowerPoint® Presentation