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Schools

Discover Ways to Improve Transportation to and from your School

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs promote healthy, safe transportation by making it easier and more fun for students to bike or walk to school, all while reducing traffic congestion during pickup and drop-off. Strong SRTS programs incorporate the 6 E’s: evaluation, education, encouragement, engagement, engineering, and equity. Programming can include pilot projects and pop-up events (similar to LADOT’s efforts in Los Angeles) that temporarily–but quickly–change street design, or they can involve permanent infrastructure changes. Collaboration among the school community, residents, and local governmental agencies and organizations is key to SRTS program success.

Benefits of SRTS include:

  • Safer Students and Streets – Drivers are more aware in areas where there are more bicyclists and pedestrians, which ultimately reduces the likelihood of crashes. Infrastructure improvements that can accompany SRTS programs also help improve safety.
  • Healthier Students – When students bike and walk to school, they are getting physical activity that supports a healthy lifestyle and reduces the risk of obesity
  • Lower Transportation Costs – More students walking and biking to school decreases the dependency on costly personal vehicles and/or school buses.
  • Reduced Tardiness & Absenteeism – Empowering students to walk and bike to school means providing them with a reliable means of transportation.

The San Mateo County Office of Education can help local schools with SRTS programs. Check out their website below to learn more.

Resources
SMCOE SRTS page
SMCOE SRTS resources
Safe Routes Partnership

Organize a School Pool on STAR

Parents and school administrators can take advantage of our STAR Platform to organize carpools to and from school. This tool helps parents share the responsibility of getting students to school, which saves them precious time while also reducing the number of trips made to and from a campus.

Email support@commute.org to learn more about the School Pool tool on STAR.

Traffic Safety Tips for Students

  • Stay Alert: Watch the road, not your phone, and keep your headphones out so you can listen for oncoming cars
  • Follow traffic signs and signals
  • Whenever possible, use bike lanes (for bicyclists) and use the sidewalk and crosswalks (for pedestrians)
  • Walk with a group for safety and visibility, if possible
  • Always look both ways for cars and bicyclists before crossing a street