Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a federal program designed to make it safe, easy and convenient for children in grades K-5 to walk and bicycle to schools. Our chapter of Florida SRTS (led by All Children's Hospital) encourages children and parents to walk or bicycle to school, map safe routes for travel, identify solutions to current traffic concerns, and increase enforcement of traffic laws.

How Does Florida Safe Routes to School Help?

There are numerous ways Safe Routes to School can help parents, children, educators and administrators improve bicycling and walking routes to their school:

• Provide Pedestrian and Bike Safety curriculum to teach children about walking and biking safely, and encouraging them to walk or bike often
• Help organize "Walking school buses" in which one or two parents or volunteers escort a group of children on the walk to and from school
• Help stage a "Bike Rodeo" skills course held at the school, providing a fun and safe environment to practice bicycle skills so that children can ride with confidence and experience
• Assist in getting increased traffic enforcement around schools
• Facilitate cooperation among school officials, law enforcement officials, and transportation planners
• Provide Pedestrian and Bike Safety Education events at your school

Get Started Today!

Contact your county's Safe Routes to School representative to learn more or to schedule an assembly at your school!

10 Good Reasons to Walk or Bike to School

1. Fun: walking and biking are fun ways to travel.
2. Healthy: walking and biking are great ways to get fit or stay strong and healthy. Regular exercise, even 10 minutes at a time, helps your heart, lungs and bones.
3. Educational: An active start to the day improves mood, concentration, creativity and problem-solving abilities.
4. Good for the environment: Walking and biking trips cause no harmful emissions.
5. Social: walking lets children and adults to make new friends and get to know their neighbors. Fewer cars outside the school entrance can improve school's traffic problems, and it's safer for other children who walk.
6. Less Stressful: walking is healthy exercise and is less stressful than driving.
7. A great way to learn road skills: adults get to teach traffic safety and experience the road from a child's perspective. Children can practice road safety skills before venturing out on their own.
8. Easy: children who walk or bike to can go wherever they need to go, whenever they need to be there.
9. Practically free: fewer car trips equals less money spent on gasoline and maintenance.
10. Safe: the presence of walkers and bicyclists reminds drivers to drive safely and slowly. Neighborhoods and School Zones become a place where everyone can safely play throughout the week.