School Active Travel Program
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.

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

Initiatives
Infrastructure improvements and action plans
Each year we engage with approximately four elementary schools, assisting with data collection, creating school active travel action plans and providing infrastructure improvements. 
Email schoolactivetravel@vancouver.ca to request to participate in the formal action plan process or to ask about or request the following related to school drop-off or pickup:
-	School crosswalk markings
-	School signs snf zones, including:
o	Parking 3 minutes sign
o	School crosswalk sign
o	Loading and unloading zone
o	No stopping, no parking, and passenger zone

School Streets
In spring 2021, we piloted School Streets at three local elementary schools. A School Street is a car-free block beside a school open to walking, biking, and rolling during pick-up and drop-off (30 to 45 minutes depending on location).
Learn more about the pilot

Walking and cycling education
Each year, we support multiple elementary schools with a four day walking and cycling education course for grade 6 and 7 students.
The course involves both in-class learning as well as on-street cycling taught by trained instructors.
To learn more about how your school may be able to participate, email SchoolActiveTravel@vancouver.ca

Walk + Bike + Roll mini grants
Mini grants of up to $500 are available to Vancouver public schools through the City of Vancouver School Active Travel Planning program. Grants support projects and activities that encourage and promote students walking, cycling, or rolling to school. 
The 2021 Walk + Bike + Roll grant applications are now closed. Thank you to all the schools that applied. 
Key dates:
-	Application deadline: June 30, 2021
-	Schools notified: Sep 15, 2021
-	Project delivery: Sep 15, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021
Reporting requirements:
Schools that receive a Walk + Bike + Roll mini grant are required to complete a short report using the template provided below. The report must be submitted by January 31, 2022. A minimum of three photos showing participants must be submitted, with photo consent forms along with the report. 
-	Walk + Bike + Roll grant report template PDF file (165 KB)
-	City of Vancouver photo release form PDF file (1.3 MB)
Email your completed report with photos to SchoolActiveTravel@vancouver.ca by January 31, 2022.

Walking School Bus
Beginning in fall 2021, we will be partnering with the non-profit DASH-BC as well as TransLink to pilot Walking School Bus programs at five elementary schools.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting new project. 
Bike to School Week
Bike to School Week is an annual celebration run by the non-profit HUB Cycling where students of all ages are encouraged to bike, roll, or walk to school.
The event includes the Bike Reels Student Video contest. Students of all ages and abilities can take part. The event is a great way to enhance green initiatives already happening at your school, build community, and highlight the benefits of active transportation - like less congestion and healthy, energized students.
This year, Bike to School Week will take place the week of May 31 and June 4 2021. Learn more

Chill Skateboarding
We are currently piloting a low-barrier program with Chill Foundation for high school students to learn the basics of safe skateboarding in partnership with the Chill Foundation.

Grandma on the Move
We partnered with award-winning children’s entertainers Will Stroet of Will's Jams and the enduring Charlotte Diamond to inspire safe, courteous, and mindful road behaviour – especially for our most vulnerable and at-risk groups.
Learn more and download the helpful resources

Planet Protector Academy 
Planet Protector Academy’s “Keep Cool” Program includes four weekly modules for in the classroom combined with at-home superhero missions and cover a range of climate action topics, including transportation.
Learn more about the program

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.

Year 2018-2019
Admiral Seymour Elementary
•	Action plan PDF file (56 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (1.5 MB)
•	Report PDF file (2.8 MB)

Simon Fraser Elementary
•	Action plan PDF file (53 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (1.6 MB)
•	Report PDF file (3.5 MB)

Sir John Franklin Elementary
•	Action plan PDF file (54 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (1.5 MB)
•	Report PDF file (3 MB)

Tecumseh Elementary
•	Action plan PDF file (53 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (957 KB)
•	Report PDF file (3.5 MB)

Tecumseh Annex School
•	Action plan PDF file (47 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (620 KB)
•	Report PDF file (3.2 MB)

Tillicum Annex School
•	Action plan PDF file (51 KB)
•	Route map PDF file (637 KB)
•	Report PDF file (1.7 MB)

How we help overcome school travel challenges
See how we improve infrastructure and support activities to encourage active travel.

New marked and raised crosswalks
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
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
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
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
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: Renfrew Elementary, Cassiar St at E 22nd Ave.

Pedestrian/bike activated signals
Assists pedestrians and cyclists in crossing major streets by providing signal-protected pedestrian crossing phase.

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

Barriers
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
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
Installation of bike racks provide secure bike parking at schools. Pictured: L’Ecole Bilingue, W 14th Ave at Alder St.

Bus pad
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
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
Signs and artworks created by students raise awareness of travel safety around the school. Pictured: Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary.

Curb bulge
Curb budges pull together the two sides of the streets together for pedestrians. They shorten the distance a pedestrian is actually on the asphalt, and increase visibility for pedestrians waiting to cross by providing them a perch or a pedestal to be prominently seen by oncoming drivers.

Pedestrian decal – Safety tips
Installed above the pedestrian crossing button, this placard reminds users of the correct crossing etiquette.  Remember, pedestrians should only ever enter an intersection when the white crossing silhouette is illuminated.

HUB’s Bike to School week
The Launch of HUB's Bike to School week included many activities to encourage young children to partake in cycling as a form of active travel.  HUB and City of Vancouver officials were present and children were encouraged to participate in bike tune-ups and decorating sessions.

Will’s Jams concert
Young children at Franklin Elementary were rocking out at the Will's Jams concert, part of the Grandma on the Move school tour.