Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national movement to make it safer and easier for kids to walk, bike, and roll to school through better infrastructure, supportive policy, and hands-on education and encouragement.

Local Motion helps lead this work in Vermont by:

• Advocating for and coordinating infrastructure improvements like crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, and traffic calming specifically so kids can get to and from school safely. 
• Supporting events and education for students, families, and school staff that encourage kids to walk and bike to school.
  • Events and Resources
  • Education
  • Taskforces
  • Funding

Local Motion works alongside the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Safe Routes Program and the national Safe Routes Partnership, which sets the broader framework and shares resources used by SRTS programs across the country.

Why This Work Matters

Over the past few decades, fewer and fewer children have been walking or biking to school. Even kids who live within a mile of school now walk or bike half as often as they used to. This has led to less physical activity, less independence, and kids arriving at school less regulated and less ready to learn.

In 1969, nearly half of all children in the US walked or biked to school. Today, that number is less than 15%. A lot has changed over the past 50 years: more traffic, bigger cars, and infrastructure that hasn't kept up with these changes. When the roads feel unsafe for children to ride alone to school, and bus services are cut, driving becomes the only option. Children miss out on important developmental experiences and the cost of transportation is passed onto families.

Events & Resources

Building a culture of walking and biking at your school can be done with a few key events, reusable resources, and a little organization.

• Walking & Biking School Buses - Groups of students who walk or bike to school together along a set route with adult supervision. These are best when the adult is a trusted parent, or a member of the school staff, and when they are hosted daily or weekly.
  • Learn more and find inspiration: walkingschoolbus.org & bikebus.world
• Walk & Bike to School Days - Join schools across the State and nation by encouraging families to walk or bike to school on these days for the 26-27 School Year:
  • Fall Walk & Roll to School Day - October 7, 2026
  • Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (learn about the history of Ruby Bridges and the micro-grant here) - November 18th, 2026
  • Winter Walk to School Day - February 3, 2027
  • Crossing guard Appreciation Day - February 10, 2027
  • Spring Bike & Roll to School Day - May 5, 2027
  • Use these resources to host a Walk & Bike to School Day:
    • Editable event poster
    • Newsletter copy you can drop into your school’s communications
• Walk Audits - Host a group walk around your school with students, staff, and family to identify barriers to safe walking and biking on and around the campus.
  • Check out Local Motion’s mini walk audit guide to learn more.
• Other ready-to-use resources:
  • Golden Ticket Punch Card to track and reward students who walk, bike, or roll to school: download and print Golden Ticket punch cards, and Golden Ticket instructions.

Want to run an event or walking/biking bus at your school? Email [email protected] to learn more about getting started.

Education

In-school education is a key part of getting kids walking, biking, and rolling safely. Local Motion offers curriculum and hands-on training available to every school in Vermont through:

• Bike Smart - our traveling trailers with fleets of kids’ bikes, helmets, and training gear for on-bike skills instruction
• Move Smart - walking & rolling curriculum school staff can use to teach kids about pedestrian safety and infrastructure

Learn more about Bike Smart & Move Smart

Taskforces

Safe Routes to School Task Forces are collaborative groups organized by Local Motion, including school staff, municipal partners, parents, advocates, and other stakeholders. These groups work together to coordinate policy and infrastructure improvements around schools in order to develop safer routes, improve traffic safety, and promote walking, biking, and rolling.

Current Task Force School Districts:

• Winooski
• Burlington
• South Burlington

Want to get involved? Email [email protected] to learn more about task forces near you, or getting one started.

Funding

Local Motion’s Safe Routes to School work is supported by funding and partnership from FHWA, Vermont Agency of Transportation, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, the eighteen municipalities in Chittenden County and everyday supporters like you.