Program benefits
School Active Travel has many benefits for students, the community, and the environment, including:
- Increasing physical activity among students, leading to healthier, happier, and more alert learners
- Creating opportunities to engage with neighbours and socialize on the way to school
- Reducing car travel to school, in turn decreasing traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution
- Inspiring active travel habits early in life to carry into adulthood
The School Active Travel Program encourages and promotes walking, biking, and rolling to school.
Our focus is to:
- Encourage more children and their families to walk, bike, and roll to school
- Improve walking and cycling infrastructure around schools
- Increase education and awareness around active transportation
The program is a partnership between the City of Vancouver and Vancouver School Board, and is a direct outcome of our Transportation 2040 Plan. The program also supports our Climate Emergency Action Plan targets.
Initiatives
Action plans and route maps
Find action plans and best walking and cycling route maps for schools that have participated in the School Active Travel Planning program.
Common infrastructure items to improve school safety
By City of Vancouver
See how we improve school infrastructure and support activities that promote school safety and active travel.
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New marked and raised crosswalks
By City of Vancouver
Crosswalks alert people driving to expect people walking. Raised crosswalks reduce vehicle speed and increases pedestrian visibility. Pictured: Thunderbird Elementary, Cassiar St at Hermon Drive.
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Curb ramps
By City of Vancouver
Curb ramps and bus pads improve accessibility for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. Pictured: Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary, Lanark St at E 47th Ave.
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New sidewalks and curbs
By City of Vancouver
Sidewalk segments address gaps in the walking network. Sidewalks and curbs provide a continuous walking experience separating people from traffic. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, Collingwood St between W 24th Ave and W King Edward Ave.
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Speed humps
By City of Vancouver
Speed humps are a traffic calming measure used to reduce vehicle volume and speed on local streets. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, W 24th Ave between Collingwood St and Blenheim St.
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Rapid rectangular flashing beacons
By City of Vancouver
These high intensity amber flashing beacons are installed at crosswalks and are activated by a pedestrian push-button. The beacons increase pedestrian visibility and alert drivers to yield at marked crosswalks. Pictured: Renfrew Elementary, Cassiar St at E 22nd Ave.
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Pedestrian/bike activated signals
By City of Vancouver
Assists pedestrians and cyclists in crossing major streets by providing signal-protected pedestrian crossing phases.
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Pedestrian signalized crossing improvement
By City of Vancouver
Countdown timers show how much time is left to cross the street at an intersection. This reduces the number of people crossing the intersection when the light changes. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, Blenheim St at W King Edward Ave.
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Signage
By City of Vancouver
Clarifies pick-up/drop-off operations, indicates various parking regulations, and improves sight-lines.
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Barriers
By City of Vancouver
These low-gravity concrete barriers regulate traffic flow and discourage U-turn activity. Pictured: Eric Hamber Secondary, Willow St at W 35th Ave.
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Protected bicycle lanes
By City of Vancouver
Protected bike lanes are on-street bike facilities physically separated from motor vehicles. These lanes can be elevated or protected from traffic by various treatments such as curbs, parked cars, concrete median and planters, and/or bollards. Pictured: Eric Hamber Secondary, Willow St between W 33rd Ave and W 35th Ave.
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Bicycle racks
By City of Vancouver
Installation of bike racks provide secure bike parking at schools. Pictured: L’Ecole Bilingue, W 14th Ave at Alder St.
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Bus pads
By City of Vancouver
Bus pads improve access for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers at bus stops and waiting areas. Pictured: Carnarvon Community Elementary, W 16th Ave at Balaclava St.
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Street mural
By City of Vancouver
Street murals are a school or community-led initiative, supported by the City, to apply artwork to the street as a traffic-calming measure. Pictured: Kerrisdale Annex Elementary, W 43rd Ave.
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Student art
By City of Vancouver
Signs and artworks created by students raise awareness of travel safety around the school. Pictured: Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary.
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Curb bulges
By City of Vancouver
Curb bulges pull together the two sides of the streets together for pedestrians. They shorten the distance a pedestrian is actually on the asphalt, and increase the visibility of pedestrians waiting to cross by providing them a perch or a pedestal to be prominently seen by oncoming drivers.
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Pedestrian decals - Safety tips
By City of Vancouver
Installed above the pedestrian crossing button, this placard reminds users of the correct crossing etiquette. Remember, pedestrians should only ever enter an intersection when the white crossing silhouette is illuminated.
Additional resources
You can take action to promote active travel at your school with these school-led educational and encouragement initiatives:
- Take part in walking and biking events in the spring or fall
- Host weekly active travel initiatives (Walk and Wheel Wednesdays, Freedom Fridays)
- Start a Walking School Bus
- Promote Drive to 5: Encourage families that drive to park five minutes away from school and walk the rest of the way
- Invite the VPD Community Road and Education Safety Team (CREST) to give pedestrian safety talks
- Start an adult crossing guard program at independent schools or participate in School Safety Patrol for VSB schools
- Share safety tips and messages with families
Download active travel and safety posters:
