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Mother walking to school with her children

Walk+bike+roll: School Active Travel Planning

The School Active Travel Planning program encourages and promotes walking and cycling to school. 

We consult with school communities and other stakeholders to identify school transportation challenges and opportunities. Our focus is to:

  • 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.

Program benefits

School Active Travel Planning 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

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.

Laura Secord Elementary

David Oppenheimer Elementary

Kerrisdale and Kerrisdale Annex Elementary

Southlands Elementary

Queen Mary Elementary

How we help overcome school travel challenges

By City of Vancouver

See how we improve infrastructure and support activities to encourage active travel.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Rapid flashing beacons

    By City of Vancouver

    These high intensity amber flashing beacons installed at crosswalks, activated by a pedestrian push-button. The beacons increase pedestrian visibility and alert people driving to yield at marked crosswalks. Pictured: Waverley Elementary, Waverley Ave at Elliot St.

  • Pedestrian/bike activated signals

    By City of Vancouver

    Assists pedestrians and cyclists in crossing major streets by providing signal-protected pedestrian crossing phase.

  • 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.

  • Signage

    By City of Vancouver

    Clarifies pick-up/drop-off operations, indicates various parking regulations, and improves sight-lines.

  • 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.

  • Protected bicycle lane

    By City of Vancouver

    On-street bike facility physically separated from motor vehicles. Can be elevated or protected by various treatments such as a curb, median, and/or bollards. Pictured: Eric Hamber Secondary, Willow St between W 33rd Ave and W 35th Ave.

  • 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.

  • Bus pad

    By City of Vancouver

    Improves access for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers to get to the bus waiting area. Pictured: Carnarvon Community Elementary, W 16th Ave at Balaclava St.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Self-starter toolkit

Participate in educational and awareness initiatives hosted by your school or start your own. Fun programs and events include:

  • Bike or walk-to-school week
  • Walking school bus
  • Cycling education
  • Safety talks

Find ideas and programs to start your own active travel program in your school community.

Questions about our program?

Interested in having your school considered for safety improvements? Please contact us at:

schoolactivetravel@vancouver.ca