The Safe Routes To School (SRTS) program is designed to fund comprehensive programs that encourage and enable more children to walk and bike to school safely. The funds are intended to start an SRTS program in communities and assist community members in sustaining successful SRTS programs.

Safe Routes to School is a comprehensive program that includes the 5 Es:

Education

Teaching the school community about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important life-long safety skills and offering school-bound and school area driver safety campaigns

• Atlanta Bicycle Campaign
• American Heart Association
• Bike Rodeos
• Clean Air Campaign Better Air Schools Program
• National Center for SRTS Education
• PEDS Kids Walk
• Safe Kids Georgia
• Walking School Bus Information

Encouragement

Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling

• American Heart Association and Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Mile Club and Contests
• Park and Walk
• National Center for SRTS Encouragement
• Walking School Bus Information
• Walk to School Day

Engineering

Creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding schools that reduce speeds and establishing safer crosswalks, walkways, trails and bikeways

• Bikeability Assessment
• National Center for SRTS Engineering
• Walkability Assessment
• Walkable Community Workshops Resources

Evaluation

Monitoring and researching outcomes and trends through the collection of data, including the collection of mode share before and after the program intervention(s)

• Student Arrival and Departure Tally Sheet
• SRTS Parent Survey

Enforcement

Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure drivers obey traffic laws, initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs and ensuring that policies are enforced

• Enforcement Guide

• Improve air quality and the environment – replacing car trips helps reduce fuel consumption, air pollution and asthma.
• Creates safer routes for walking and bicycling – sidewalks, traffic calming measures and education programs are some ways to increase safety.
• Enhances the health of kids – increased physical activity can combat obesity and diabetes, and improve learning.