Safe Routes to Schools

Safe Routes to Schools is spreading across the nation as a means of reducing traffic congestion, increasing physical activity and encouraging community involvement in solving complex problems. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is a recognized national leader in this movement. The principle goal of the program is to get more children walking and biking to school safely. The program includes education, incentives, engineering and partnerships with parents, town government, schools and law enforcement. A key component of the program involves classroom education that teaches children traffic safety skills. Contests and events encourage students and their parents to shift their travel behavior through fun community activities.

Walk to School Day

History of the Marin County Program

Safe Routes Kids During the 2002-2003 school year, we worked with 25 schools, reaching 10,000 students (thanks to funding from Transportation Enhancements through the Marin CMA and the City of San Rafael .) During the next two years, the program was funded through Transportation for Clean Air funding from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Then in 2004, the voters of Marin passed a transportation sales tax which included 11% funding for Safe Routes to Schools including crossing guards and infrastructure. The program is now under the auspices of the Transportation Authority of Marin, and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition continues to run the day to day activities through a contractual agreement. Over 40 schools now participate in the program.

National Safe Routes to Schools

On August 10, 2005 , SAFETEA-LU, the new federal transportation bill that provides $286.5 billion in funding through September 2009, became law. It includes a $612 million appropriation for a new national Safe Routes to School program that will provide benefits in all 50 states. Communities will use this funding to construct new bike lanes, pathways, and sidewalks, as well as to launch Safe Routes education and promotion campaigns in elementary and middle schools. Each state is required to hire a full time Safe Routes to Schools coordinator. Many states have already issued requests for projects.

Through it's national model status, Marin's Safe Routes to Schools program is helping to set a new trend for the nation. Congressman James Oberstar (D-Minn), a founder of the program at the federal level, proclaims that Safe Routes to Schools is, "changing the habits of an entire generation."

Safe Routes to Schools is a program that is exploding across America . To find out how you can start a Safe Routes to Schools in your community and get expert training and advice, contact us at wendi@marinbike.org

National Training for Safe Routes to Schools

Link to Marin's Safe Routes to Schools website.

Evaluation by Nelson Nygaard, August 2005

Deb Hubsmith Presents National Safe Routes to Schools Proposal
In Congressional Briefing on April 7, 2005

Audio News Release of Safe Routes to Schools interview with Deb Hubsmith (audio link)

Interview with Deb Hubsmith (by the American Heart Association, August 2004)

Planning Safe Routes to Schools (Planning Magazine May 2003).

NHTSA Gives Public Service Award for Marin Safe Routes to Schools (March 2003)

2nd Year Report Press Release: More Kids Walking and Biking to Schools (2002)

National Bicycle Educators Conference Events Summary (June 2002)

"Safe Routes to Schools in the USA," by Debbie Hubsmith
(Presented at the Velo-City Conference in Scotland in September of 2001).

NHTSA Final Report on Safe Routes to Schools
(Submitted in September 2001).