News and Updates
Safe Routes Partnership Federal Policy Updates: Shutdown Edition
The government may be shut down, but our efforts to secure policy and funding for Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling continue on. It’s been a minute since we updated you via blog on what’s happening on Capitol Hill related to Safe Routes to School and active transportation because we’ve been posting video updates….
Behind the Scenes: Safe Routes Advocacy
During my time with the Safe Routes Partnership, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in both the legislative and advocacy work that drives our mission forward. I began by familiarizing myself with key bills, such as the Langenkamp Bill and the Safe Routes to School Coordinator Bill, which are currently being considered in…
2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Application Now Open
Thank you for your interest in applying for the 2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day mini-grant! Before beginning your application, please review the grant eligibility guidelines and funding ideas listed in the application. 2025 Mini-Grant Application Submissions are due by Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Grants will be awarded by…
The Safe Routes Partnership Testifies Before U.S. Senate in Support of the Safe Routes Improvement Act
The Safe Routes Partnership Testifies Before U.S. Senate in Support of the Safe Routes Improvement Act 20 years of Safe Routes to School experience shows us that one of the best ways to reach more kids with the fun, safety, and health benefits of walking and bicycling is through a state Safe Routes to School…
2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Application
Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. This annual celebration honors Ruby’s courage and highlights the importance of anti-racism, kindness, and community connection. You Talked, We Listened! In response to community feedback, we are pleased to share the application questions in advance to help schools and organizations prepare….
I’m Safe Joins the Safe Routes Partnership Leadership Circle
We’re proud to welcome I’m Safe to the Safe Routes Partnership Leadership Circle as a Bronze Sponsor. I’m Safe is a trusted leader in child safety known for their outstanding customer service and broad range of engaging, effective educational tools. I’m Safe began a new chapter in April 2024 when Laura Corriveau and Peter McCarthy,…
Rolling into Joy: 2025 Bike & Roll to School Celebrations Across the Country
The Safe Routes Partnership was proud to support the 2025 Bike & Roll to School event, hosted by our friends at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. With incredible efforts by Safe Routes to School coordinators, partners, and volunteers, students biked, rolled, and scooted their way to school. In Riverside, California, Longfellow…
Bipartisan Legislation in Congress to Support Safe Routes to School
Bipartisan Legislation in Congress to Support Safe Routes to School “Keeping kids safe on the way to school” is a winning message on both sides of the aisle. At a time when Washington, DC and the nation feel more divided than ever, we celebrate bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Safe Routes to School movement in…
? Urgent Action Needed: Help Us Strengthen Safe Routes to School!
? Urgent Action Needed ? Help Us Strengthen Safe Routes to School! Today, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that could transform Safe Routes to School in every state—and the Safe Routes Partnership is proud to be leading the charge with incredible partners like YOU! The legislation (S. 1828), introduced by…
Bike Rodeos: A Good Start, But Not the Finish Line
Dave and a few students learning bike skills I organized and led my first bike rodeo 18 years ago, in a sunbaked school parking lot with a pile of orange cones, a box of too-big helmets, some sidewalk chalk, and more enthusiasm than expertise. Kids showed up with bikes in various forms of disarray—flat tires,…
Drawn to the Library! Finding My Place in the Safe Routes Movement
National Library Week celebrates the valuable role that libraries, librarians, and library workers play in our communities. Visit the National Library Week website to learn more about this year’s theme “Drawn to the Library!” and how you can support your local libraries. When I joined the Safe Routes Partnership seven years ago, it was…
Safe Routes to School: We Want Your Photos & Videos!
The Safe Routes Partnership is taking a closer look at Safe Routes to School stories, successes, and best practices from state and local programs to weave a detailed tapestry of work across the country. Our goal is to share glimpses of what is working well in other states and to highlight program successes in upcoming…
Want Safer Roads for Kids and Communities? There’s funding for that – open now!
FY 2025 SS4A Supporting Materials Frequently Asked Questions At a glance There is $1 billion available for communities to develop plans and implement strategies to improve roadway safety. Applications are as short as 2 pages, and chances of success are very high. The deadline is June 26, 2025. The Safe Routes Partnership is here…
Congress Reintroduces the Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act to Boost Safety and Investment in Biking and Walking
Photo courtesy of Dan Langenkamp Congress Reintroduces the Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act to Boost Safety and Investment in Biking and Walking Marisa Jones and Vanessa Cascio We are pleased to share that the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act has been reintroduced in the 119th Congress! In partnership with the League of American Bicyclists,…
Bad bill alert! Don’t shift local bicycling, walking and Safe Routes to School funding to recreational uses
All across the country, the Transportation Alternatives Program is the leading source of federal formula funding for walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School projects that help us achieve that vision. It funds sidewalks, bike lanes, and Safe Routes to School programs. It invests in projects that improve safety, create walkable Main Streets, and make…
Using Safe Routes to School to Build Safer, More Connected Communities for Women and Girls
Vanessa and her child on a bike ride I still remember the overwhelming feeling of being a new parent—so many decisions to make, so much to figure out! One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to transport both myself and my baby. After years of riding solo on my bike to work, suddenly…
Navigating Change Together: Our Commitment to the Safe Routes to School Community
Instead of the cheery “20th anniversary of Safe Routes to School” message we had planned to release, we take this moment to acknowledge how current events affect the Safe Routes to School movement, and most importantly the people who make up this field. Actions taken by the White House in recent weeks undermine and threaten…
Three Weeks In: Impacts of the New Administration’s Actions on Safe Routes
A lot has happened in Washington in the past three weeks. We at the Safe Routes Partnership are gathering intel and as things become clearer, we will continue to advocate for funding and policies that support walking, biking and Safe Routes while centering the people within this movement. In the meantime, while things are in…
The Fastest Way to Fall in Love with a City Is on Two Wheels
The Fastest Way to Fall in Love with a City Is on Two Wheels In 2017, while on a work trip to Detroit, I sent my partner a text message: “Detroit is amazing. I love it here.” What sparked my spontaneous love letter to the Motor City? A bike ride. That afternoon, I had joined…
New Year, New Federal Landscape
The new year ushers in a season of change in Washington, D.C., and I’m not just referring to the snowfall in the nation’s capital! The 119th Congress was sworn in, and the change in presidential administrations will occur on January 20, 2025 – Inauguration Day. What does this all mean for federal transportation policy and…