Safe Routes to School

Image of school kids walking and smiling


Safe Routes To School Action Plan

The Safe Routes to School team has been hard at work over the last year creating a comprehensive, five-year Action Plan.  The Action Plan’s overall goal is to double the mode-share of families who walk or bike to school, from about 14% in 2022 to 30% by 2027.  The Action Plan contains 50 goals to accomplish by the end of 2027, categorized within 8 focus areas.  The Action Plan also worked on prioritizing schools through a data-driven approach using typologies and overlays to create a school prioritization list.  Additional information can be found at the links below.

For a brief overview of the process that the Safe Routes Action Plan that helps explain some of the tools and outcomes of the plan, please see this ArcGIS StoryMap that was created.

Safe Routes to School Documents:

Safe Routes to School Action Plan(PDF, 30MB)

Safe Routes to School Prioritization Matrix + Methodology(PDF, 82KB)

Denver Safe Routes to School serves school communities to create safe and equitable places and opportunities that enable physical activity, lowers the obesity rate and risk while traveling to and from school.

View our Safe Routes to School International Handout(PDF, 285KB)

Download the "Benefits of Safe Routes to School" Poster(PDF, 654KB)

Getting Started

Health and safety are key benefits of Safe Routes to School.  Studies have shown that the community benefits from Safe Routes to School initiatives include:

  • Safer students: Improved traffic safety and increased confidence for students through opportunities to learn about and practice road safety.
  • Healthier students: Increased daily physical activity, forming healthy habits that can last a lifetime, helping students build strong bones, muscles and joints, and decreasing the risk of chronic disease and obesity.
  • Better focus: Students who are ready to learn, who are healthy, awake and alert, with better focus and concentration, which can improve academic performance.
  • School transportation improvements: Solutions to school transportation issues such as hazardous traffic congestion during pick-up/drop-off times, and student absences and tardiness due to transportation challenges.
  • Community connections: Increased family and community engagement, providing positive social opportunities for students and families.
  • Healthier environment: Reduced idling times during drop off and pick up, combined with more carpooling, walking, and/or biking to school results in cleaner air and reduced asthma rates. 

Here's how to submit a Safe Routes to School support request through 311:

  • We are transitioning our support requests to a process that we hope will better support your needs. While we are transitioning this process, please submit your request by calling 311 and be sure to include one (1) of the following statements in your request to ensure that we receive it:

    • This is a Safe Routes to School request and I would like recommendations on how to increase safety at drop off and pick up.
    • This is a Safe Routes to School request and I would like the best options that encourage more walking, biking, or carpooling to school in our school community.
    • This is a Safe Routes to School request and I would like to host some safety education events at our school and seek your support.
    • This is a Safe Routes to School request and I would like to host some walking and/or biking safety education events at our school and seek your support.
    • Or if you have a different request start it with: This is a Safe Routes to School request and <insert your specific need here>.

    Save the case number you are given in case you have questions about the status of your request.

Upcoming Safe Routes to School Events

Learn about the upcoming events and projects in Denver's Department of Transportation & Infrastructure that support Safe Routes to School.

Cory Merrill

Montbello Bicycle Course

McAuliffe International

Contact

Email SRTS@DenverGov.org

Have a Problem or Safety Concern?

  • Is there an intersection or a street that feels unsafe for children to access on their way to school?
  • Are there concerns about driving behaviors near your school community?
  • Does a school zone sign need repair?

The City and County of Denver wants to know!

Please report these individual school safety concerns to our 311 service. You can either call 3-1-1 or submit your concern online at pocketgov.org.

Call 3-1-1

Please report an urgent safety concern that requires immediate attention to the Denver Police Department by calling 9-1-1.

Report a Problem or Safety Concern to 311

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