History of Safe Routes to School

Where the Journey Began

The Safe Routes to School movement started with a simple need: getting children to and from school safely. In the 1970s, the city of Odense, Denmark, found that too many children were getting injured on their way to school. Their solution was simple but powerful: build safer streets with slower traffic for kids. Those changes led to a 40 percent drop in child traffic injuries and inspired similar programs across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to reimagine how children move through their neighborhoods.

Rolling Into the U.S.

The first Safe Routes to School program in the U.S. started in 1997 in New York City's Bronx borough, and later that same year the state of Florida piloted its own program. People were rallying around Safe Routes to School to improve safety, encourage physical activity, and make the journey to school fun.

Momentum built quickly. In 2000, Congress funded two Safe Routes to School pilot projects through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in large part due to the efforts of advocate Deb Hubsmith and Congressman Jim Oberstar. These projects set a foundation for what would become a nationwide movement.

A National Commitment

In 2005, Congress created the federal Safe Routes to School Program and invested $1.1 billion over five years in a transportation bill called SAFETEA-LU. Between 2005 and 2012, more than 15,000 schools benefited from that federal investment that brought new sidewalks, crosswalks, bike racks, and programs encouraging walking and biking to school.

Also in 2005, Deb Hubsmith founded the Safe Routes Partnership as a project under Bikes Belong (now PeopleForBikes). Her vision turned a small initiative into a growing national coalition. By 2013, Safe Routes Partnership had become the national leader for Safe Routes to School and a stand-alone organization.

Navigating Detours and Keeping Momentum

In 2012, the federal landscape shifted and Congress combined the federal Safe Routes to School program with other bicycling and walking programs into the new Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). During this consolidated there was an overall 30 percent reduction in federal funding for Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling. The Safe Routes Partnership kept its commitment during this time by advocating for Safe Routes to School funding under TAP and launching local and state campaigns to keep supporting champions across the country with training, resources, and on-the-ground assistance.

Rolling Forward: Our Legacy, Our Future

Today, the Safe Routes Partnership is the national leader for the Safe Routes to School movement with a vision to create more healthy, active, and equitable communities. As the movement has grown, so has the understanding of what it means to have “safe routes.” Champions across the country have seen that this work is not just about the trip to school; it is about every journey people take in their communities. That is why Safe Routes Partnership now champions a broader approach, safe routes to everyday destinations like parks, libraries, community centers, and transit stops. We have influenced legislation, supported thousands of communities, and fostered a movement that centers children, health, and safety.

But our work isn't done.

Together, we're walking, biking, and rolling toward a future where every community has access to safe, inclusive, and joyful ways to get around because mobility is a right for all.