Guides

Florida's Safe Ways to School
Provides pedestrian and bicycle safety education program, and links to bicycle organizations and grants for SRTS programs.

Detailed guide promoting SRTS programs. Includes discussion of functional topics such as how to organize SRTS programs, developing action plans, public relations, working with elected officials, tools and resources. 

KidsWalk-to-School Brochure (PDF–334k) – CDC
A short brochure providing answers to frequently asked questions on the importance of walking to school.

Maryland Safe Routes to School Guidebook Program (PDF-1.4Mb)
A detailed guidebook developed with a focus on parents and neighborhood organizations. Introduces the Maryland SRTS program and details how to start a SRTS program, mapping, getting input from stakeholders, funding, and steps to success.

Safe Routes To School: Pledging Safe Communities for Our Children -  (PDF-236Kb) - BikeWalk
A fact sheet on the benefits of community investment in SRTS for children. Includes a pledge form for individuals and organizations.

Safe Routes to School: Practice and Promise  (PDF-3.07Mb) – NHTSA
This publication is aimed at local decision-makers and is structured to assist them in determining how to allocate scarce resources and assure positive outcomes from SRTS efforts. The guide contains a history of SRTS, considers risks and benefits, offers examples, and lists supportive agencies and organizations.

Safe Routes to School Toolkit - NHTSA
A comprehensive introduction to most aspects of SRTS programs and activities. Also includes an extensive guide to SRTS classroom activities.

The 2001 Summary of Safe Routes to School Programs in the United States – Transportation Alternatives
A review of approximately 12 state and local SRTS programs, including program summaries, engineering, design & planning strategies, education strategies, and budget & funding issues.

Train the Trainer (PPT–1Mb) - CDC
A presentation on best practices for SRTS program managers and participants.

Walk to School Programs Fact Sheet – CDC
Summary of data and studies related to the health effects of walking to school. 

Walk-to-School Programs Quick Start Resource (PDF-65k) - CDC
A list of key references, tools, and components for the planning, implementation, evaluation and promotion of walk-to-school programs.

Walkability and Bikeability Checklists - PBIC
Checklists that provide communities techniques designed to evaluate neighborhood walkability and bikeability, and long-term solutions to potential issues and problems.

Walking and Bicycling to School: Community Presentation (PPT–2.25Mb) - CDC
A presentation developed to encourage state level promotion of bicycling and walking to school programs by building partnerships and assisting local constituents develop bicycling and walking to school programs.

Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School  (PDF-1Mb) – National Trust
A study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that examines the public policies, funding formulas and planning code exemptions, that are promoting the spread of mega-school sprawl on outlying, undeveloped land at the expense of small, walkable, community-centered schools in older neighborhoods.

Lesson Plans

Centers for Disease Control

Lesson Plan, Presenter's Guide, and Presentation Script (PDF–172k) - CDC
A comprehensive list of lesson plans adaptable to all communities.

Marin County, CA

Marin County, CA Curriculum Guide  (PDF–275k)
A summary guide which introduces lesson plans for varies age groups.

Safety Art  (PDF–162k)
For grades 1+: prepares children for International Walk to School Day. The lesson reviews the four reasons to walk and ride and the six simple steps to staying safe. Children make picket style signs to carry and large banners to place at staging areas and in front of schools. Includes 11X17 safety poster.

Stop! Look! Listen!  (PDF–127k)
For 2nd grade: a lesson addressing the behavior which statistically causes the greatest number of injuries for child pedestrians: failure to stop at the edge and look for traffic. The lesson uses direct instruction, NHTSA's video Safe Crossings With Willie Whistle. Children learn the importance of stopping at every edge, looking left, right, then left again, listening for cars and only crossing if it's clear. The Walking Obstacle Course is a simulation of street crossing situations. Four obstacles: legally parked cars, cars parked in the crosswalk, the shrub (visual obstacle) and the moving car, give children an opportunity to put into practice what they learned in Stop! Look! Listen!

Helmet Safety  (PDF–118k)
For 4th grade: a demonstration-based lesson which teaches the importance of wearing a helmet and proper helmet fit. The lesson uses the "egg drop" method of showing the effectiveness of a helmet. The lesson concludes by providing children an opportunity to share positive experiences they have riding a bike and experiences they have had with crashes or close calls. Children are prompted to share what they could have done to avoid the situation, and are asked if they had a helmet on and how the helmet protected them and avoided injury.

The Bicycle Safety Rodeo  (PDF–160k)
For 4th grade: teaches children the importance of stopping at every edge, looking for traffic and remaining in control at all times when riding a bike. This is achieved through a series of bike handling drills and the simulation of traffic situations. Each rodeo begins with a safety check of the bicycles and the helmet. Eight different courses provide children the opportunity to practice a variety of specific bike handling skills and procedures for operating a bike safely and legally in traffic.

Mapping  (PDF–110k)
For grades 4-8: an opportunity for students to map their route to school and rate the safety of their route by conducting the Safe Routes Check List, an inventory of hazards and safety features.

Maryland State Walk and Bike to School Safety Education Lessons

K-5 Lessons  (PDF–7.5MB)
Detailed lesson plans covering crossing safety, bus safety, intersections, traffic safety and neighborhood safety.

Administrator’s Guide  (PDF–5MB)
Covers lesson content, instructor training, materials needed for program, liability issues, program coordination, teacher support, and parental and community support.

Teacher’s Guide  (PDF–7.5MB)
Grade-by-grade pedestrian and bicycle lesson plans, including SRTS program mechanics, safety concepts, encouragement & promotion.

Other Lesson Plans

Portland Kids on the Move
A comprehensive curriculum written and designed especially for school children, kindergarten through fifth grade. The 25 lessons emphasize safety and the environment.

Safer Journey Interactive Website - FHWA
Interactive website for improving pedestrian safety, including a section on SRTS.

NHTSA Classroom Activities
SRTS classroom activities guide highlighting safety skills and communication.

Step to Safety with ASIMO: children’s pedestrian safety DVD/video – Honda Motors
Step to safety with ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), the world's most advanced humanoid walking robot! In this educational program, students discover safe and responsible street crossing steps with the help of ASIMO and friends. ASIMO uses its human-like capabilities to show a group of young friends how to cross the street safely in various traffic situations. Children are educated and entertained by ASIMO as they take a closer look at important pedestrian safety procedures and learn to rely on themselves to make smart safety decisions.

Jello in a Jar – Safe Kids Worldwide
A VHS video about bicycle safety and how wearing a helmet can prevent death or brain injury, featuring Travis, who survived a serious bicycle crash. Includes discussion questions and activity suggestions.