Safe Routes to School
Youth around the state are discovering the joy and freedom of riding a bike. Safe Routes to School works to provide youth with the opportunity to ride–be it to school, the sports field, a friend’s house, the library, or the dentist. We educate youth and parents about safe riding skills, encourage schools and communities to support riding, and help communities make the streets, trails, and sidewalks safe for bike riders of all ages. Stay up to date on Safe Routes to School activities by following our blog.
5th Grade Bicycle Poster Contest
Thank you to all the 6 schools and over 30 students who participated in the 5th Grade National Poster Contest. Look here to see the winners for Washington State!
May is Bike to School Month
Help organize Bike to School Month events for your school during the month of May. And be sure to celebrate Bike to School Day on May 8th!
Safety Education
It is important for anyone riding a bike to understand traffic rules and know how to move safely. We work with over 30 school districts around the state to incorporate a bike and pedestrian safety education program into their 4th through 8th grade PE classes. It’s drivers education for bikes! Information and resources on this program can be found on our Safety Education page.
Summer Institute
To foster the sharing of best practices, we host the Safe Routes to School Summer Institutes. These events are for parents, teachers, planners–anyone interested in Safe Routes to School–to learn from each other, take training on particular skills, and connect with our movement.
State Center
In supporting the Safe Routes to School movement in Washington State, the Bicycle Alliance and Feet First maintain the Center for Safe Routes to School in Washington State. This is a clearinghouse of Safe Routes to School information and a tool to connect communities across the state.
Contact Us
Interested in having Safe Routes to School curriculum taught in your child’s school? Your PTA or a local fundraising effort can pay for the curriculum delivery and buy bikes for ongoing bike education that will get young riders rolling year after year. Contact Seth Schromen-Wawrin, Program Manager, SethS@bicyclealliance.org, to learn how.
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington originated the Safe Routes to School curriculum in the state based on a model developed by former board member Eileen Hyatt of Spokane. After piloting it in four school districts we’ve expanded it with state funding and delivered it to 30+ districts across the state, preparing PE teachers to reach over 10,000 students each year so they can walk and bike to school with confidence and follow the rules of the road.
