School Initiatives
Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) supports communities in creating opportunities for children to increase their daily physical activity by safely walking, biking, and rolling to, from, or at school!
Mecklenburg County is home to robust Safe Routes to School movements at the local level, with many schools holding regular walking and bicycling events. Our updated SRTS Mecklenburg County Partnership Program provides activities and resources focused on helping students, parents, teachers, staff, volunteers, and the community increase the number of children walking, biking, or rolling to and from school. We work with partner schools by improving walking and bicycling conditions around schools, supporting the development of healthy habits and safety skills while having FUN!
Safe Routes to School Partnership Program
Walking, biking, or rolling to school represents a fun opportunity for physical activity built into a child's day. With sedentary behavior contributing to rising childhood obesity levels, Safe Routes to School programming is a convenient way to increase youth physical activity and develop healthy life-long habits. Benefits may include:
Healthier Students: Reduced risk of chronic disease, improved physical and mental health
Connecting the Community: Walking, biking, or rolling to school provides students additional opportunities for social interactions with peers, as well as increased connections for families and neighbors
Cleaner Air: Reduced vehicle emissions near school zones
Increased Traffic Safety: Improvements to the school zone built environment (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.)
Better Academic Performance: Being active before school improves focus and concentration, and those that walk, bike, or roll to school in groups have fewer absences and less tardiness
Become a Partner School
Interested in getting more families in your school community walking, riding, or rolling to school?
By becoming a Partner School with the Safe Routes to School Mecklenburg County Partnership Program your school community will have the opportunity to progress through the four levels of our partnership program. The program is designed to recognize and encourage active transportation to school and is available to any Mecklenburg County elementary or middle school. Partnership demonstrates a school's commitment to improving opportunities for students to safely walk, bike, or roll to school.
Partner schools will receive:
Support from the SRTS Coordinator, including guided walking assessments, connections to community partners, and event planning assistance.
Resources including prizes for students, how-to guides, marketing materials, and more.
A partnership decal to proudly display in your school's office! This decal will show the community that your school is committed to supporting students safely walking, biking, and rolling to school.
Get Your Principal Involved
Talk with them to get their support and buy-in; without support from leadership and parents it can be tricky to get a walking/bicycling program off the ground.