Safe routes to school
Walking and biking are an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle, however, many children in this country don't start out the day with these activities. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs provide the opportunity to make walking and biking to school fun, healthy, safer, and accessible to all who chose to walk and bike to school. SRTS is a nationwide program that can benefit communities by enhancing children's health and well-being, easing traffic congestion, improving air quality near schools, and increasing the overall health of the community and the built environment.
SRTS programs consist of a broad network of public health and city agencies, community-based organizations, pedestrian and bicycle advocates, school officials, teachers, parents and more - all working together to create safe and healthier environments where children can be physically active while combating childhood chronic disease.
County of Santa Clara’s SRTS program
The County of Santa Clara’s SRTS program provides technical assistance and capacity building to Safe Routes to School providers all throughout Santa Clara County. Support includes trainings, workshops, resource development, and sharing of local and regional best practices on education, encouragement, and evaluation activities.
SRTS providers include representatives from various cities, districts, and community-based agencies that provide SRTS programming and administration. They meet on a quarterly basis and are led by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and supported by Traffic Safe Communities Network.
Below if a list of Santa Clara County Cities supporting SRTS programs:
- City of Cupertino Safe Routes to School
- City of Los Altos Safe Routes to School
- Los Gatos/Monte Sereno SR2S
- City of Morgan Hill Bicycling and Walking
- City of Mountain View Safe Routes to School
- City of Palo Alto Safe Routes to School
- City of San Jose Walk N’ Roll Program
- City of Santa Clara Safe Routes to School
- City of Saratoga Safe Routes to School
Below is a list of community-based partners supporting SRTS efforts in Santa Clara County:
- Alta Planning + Design
- California Walks
- Ecology Action
- Safe Moves
- Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
- Valley Transit Authority (VTA)
To learn more about the County of Santa Clara’s SRTS programs, download the program brochure
Funding for the County of Santa Clara’s SRTS is supported by the 2016 Measure B Sales Tax allocated towards Bicycle and Pedestrian Education and Encouragement Programs.
Walk and bike events
To learn about fun walk and bike promotion events you can do at your school, visit our Walk and Bike events page.
SRTS resources
Santa Clara County's Walk and Roll- SRTS program creates safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for students (k-12) and their families to walk and bicycle to and from school. To help programs get started, we have created a number of resources for you.
- Safe Routes to School Coordinator Manual: A How-To Guide for Promoting Walking and Rolling at Your School
- Building Momentum for Safe Routes to School: A Toolkit for School Districts and City Leaders
- Start a Walk to School Day: The Basics Video English
- Start a Walk to School Day: The Basics Video Spanish
- Start a Walk to School Day: The Basics Handout English
- Start a Walk to School Day: The Basics Handout Spanish
- Walking School Bus Guide
- Use Your Head, Wear A Helmet English
- Use Your Head, Wear A Helmet Spanish
- Use Your Head, Wear A Helmet Vietnamese
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Parents and Youth booklet English
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Parents and Youth booklet Spanish
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Parents and Youth booklet Vietnamese
- School Closures and Consolidation Guidebook
If you need assistance in planning your SRTS program, let us know and we can meet with your team.
For more information about SRTS or how to get involved contact:
Healthy Communities Branch
1775 Story Road
Suite 120
San Jose, CA 95122
United States
Phone: (408) 793-2700
Fax: (408) 251-4014