

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
The School Active Travel Planning program encourages and promotes walking, cycling, and rolling to school.
We consult with school communities and other stakeholders to identify school transportation challenges and opportunities. Our focus is to:
- Encourage more children and their families to walk, cycle, 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.
Additional resources
You can support active travel at your school with these school-led educational and encouragement initiatives:
- Take part in walk and wheel events in the spring or fall
- Host a weekly active travel program (Walk and Wheel Wednesdays, Freedom Fridays)
- Start a Walking School Bus
- Promote Drive to 5: Encourage families that drive to park a five-minute walk from school
- Invite the VPD to give pedestrian safety talks
- Start an adult crossing guard program at independent schools
- Share safety tips and messages with families
See resources below.
Download helpful posters: