Program Goals & Benefits

The goal of the Santa Monica Safe Routes to School Program is to help families bicycle and walk to school by offering education and encouragement programs, and by improving walking and bicycling conditions near schools. This type of program has many benefits for the community, including:

• Helping children arrive at school alert and ready to learn
• Helping families establish healthy habits of daily physical activity
• Encouraging families to make walking and biking to school part of everyday life
• Teaching children the skills and knowledge they need to be safe and independent when walking or bicycling, including rules of the road, physical skills, and safety behaviors
• Helping reduce auto congestion and improve traffic safety outside our schools
• Improving air quality by reducing vehicle emissions associated with school travel