Save Routes to School

Engineering Strategies

Create School Route Maps

• Create a school route map to inform students of the safest and most convenient walking and bicycling route to school.
• Use neighborhood walk- or bike-abouts to identify and raise awareness about barriers to bicycling and walking.
• Conduct walking and bicycle audits to gather data about environmental conditions (social, built and natural) that affect walking and bicycling.
• Complete a school traffic control plan to identify existing traffic controls on roads leading to the school, identify areas where improvements are needed, and identify what those improvements should be.

School Zone Strategies

• School zone signs and pavement markings.
• School area speed limit and signing.
• Portable speed limit signs and radar speed trailers.
• Changeable message signs and speed feedback signs.
• School advance warning signs and school crosswalk signs.
• Overhead signs and beacons.
• In-street signing.
• Retroreflective yellow-green school signs and post covers.
• Curb paint, signs and school pavement legends.

Along the School Route

• Design and access for students of all abilities.
• Sidewalks and paths.
• Street lighting to illuminate the pedestrian area and improve nighttime travel.
• On-street Bicycle Facilities. (bicycle lanes, shoulders, racks, and boulevards)
• Bridges and tunnels for connectivity and safety.
• Create connectivity by buildings an integrated bicycle and pedestrian system that allows smooth and continuous movement by pedestrians and bicycles.

Street Crossings

• Reduce crossing distances for pedestrians with curb extensions, crossing islands, waiting areas, stand-back lines, and reduced vehicle lanes.
• Mark crosswalks.
• Enhance visibility of pedestrians with lighting or enhance the visibility of the crosswalks with markings and parking restrictions.
• Add traffic signals.

Slowing Down Traffic

• Narrow lanes.
• Chokers and chicanes.
• Speed bumps.
• Raised pedestrian crosswalks.
• Neighborhood traffic circles.
• Reduced corner radii.
• Speed sensitive signals.