Continuing Research on the California Safe Routes to School Program

Evaluating the impact of California Safe Routes to School

In 1999, California became the first state to pass legislation for a state level Safe Routes to School program, allocating transportation funds for engineering modifications near schools. Since its inception, policy goals have been increasing walking and bicycling activity among students at elementary, middle and high schools, and reducing child/adolescent injuries and fatalities.

Not only was the California SRTS program unique in that it was a state-level program providing transportation funds for engineering improvements that focused on health promotion; but the focus of SRTS also expanded beyond traffic safety for the first time, branching out to include promotion of physical activity through walking and bicycling to school.