Children and adult walking across street

 City reminds road users to put safety first as students return to school

September 4 2026 –

With students returning to classrooms next week, the City of Vancouver is reminding everyone to slow down, stay alert, and help keep children safe as they travel to and from school. 

The annual return to school brings increased activity on Vancouver streets, with students and families travelling during peak morning and afternoon periods. Drivers, cyclists, e-mobility users, and all road users should exercise extra caution especially in and around school zones. 

Road safety is a shared responsibility 

To help keep school areas safe, the City reminds drivers to: 

  • Allow extra travel time and expect increased traffic near schools. 
  • Follow all posted signs and obey school zone speed limits. 
  • Yield to pedestrians and cyclists at intersections and crosswalks. 
  • Watch carefully for children who may be distracted or crossing unexpectedly. 
  • Respect school pick-up and drop-off areas and all no-stopping regulations. 
  • Leave at least one metre of space when passing people walking, cycling, or using mobility devices. 
  • Yield to buses re-entering traffic and remain alert around transit stops used by students. 

Walking, biking and rolling to school 

Parents, caregivers and students are encouraged to consider active transportation options such as walking, biking, rolling, or taking transit, when travelling to and from school. People riding a bike, e-bike, or e-scooter must wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.  

E-scooter riders are reminded to ensure they:  

  • Meet the age requirements (16 years to use a personal e-scooter or 18 for a Lime e-scooter). 
  • Travel at speeds that do not exceed 25 km/h. 
  • Slow your roll in busy areas and when passing others. 
  • Use the e-scooter for a single rider only (passengers are not permitted). 
  • Walk your wheels when on sidewalks. 
  • Ride only where bikes are permitted including streets, greenways, and marked paths (riding on the sidewalk is not permitted). 

A safer journey to school 

The City continues to support safe and active travel to school through a range of programs and infrastructure improvements, including: 

Plan ahead for construction-related traffic impacts

Through the fall, construction, roadwork, development and infrastructure projects continue across Vancouver. Commuters should plan ahead, expect delays, and watch for changing traffic patterns, particularly near schools and major travel corridors.  

Major projects include watermain upgrades along East King Edward Avenue, and transportation and public realm upgrades in Davie Village. Construction on the Province’s Broadway Subway Project  continues with West Broadway closed to vehicles between Cambie Street and Alberta Street until approximately January. 

Resources

Learn more about the School Active Travel Program, which encourages and promotes walking, biking, and rolling to school.  

Drivers travelling in and around school zones or construction areas should plan ahead and expect delays.      

  • Use these safety tips (680 KB)  when driving around school zones. 
  • Follow all detours and abide by no parking signs in the area.     
  • Be considerate of local traffic and avoid short-cutting through residential streets or bike routes that are not designed for high volumes of traffic.   
  • Stay ahead of road closures at vancouver.ca/roadahead, follow #VanTraffic or use traffic cameras to check traffic conditions along your commute.  

Transit users, TransLink is making it easier for thousands of people to reach work, school, and other important destinations this fall by adding capacity on busy routes and expanding transit into growing employment areas.