What is Safe Routes to School?
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a program aimed at making walking and biking to school safer for students. Most often this is in the form of a Walking School Bus (WSB), where school staff and other adult volunteers accompany children walking to or from school, resulting in healthier students and a safer environment. Safe Routes programming also helps reduce traffic and air pollution surrounding schools due to a decrease in the amount of cars idling, increases regular physical activity for students, leads to better academic performance, and can reduce student absences and tardiness.
Safe Routes to School in Knox County
Bike Walk Knoxville coordinates the Knox County Safe Routes to School Partnership, which supports the efforts of local governments and school communities to promote safe walking and biking to schools throughout Knox County.
The partnership is making a difference for Knox County students by:
Creating safer streets and communities.
Supporting active transportation programs like Walking School Buses and investing in complete streets infrastructure (sidewalks, bike paths, and traffic calming) makes entire neighborhoods safer by increasing walkability and promoting community awareness and engagement with street safety.
Promoting active, healthy lifestyles and transportation.
Walking to school has been shown to promote students' mental, physical and emotional health, with benefits including increased focus in school, development of physical coordination and strength, and the joy of experiencing the natural world with peers.
Reducing financial and environmental costs of school transportation needs.
When more students walk or bike to school, school communities experience cleaner air and reduced traffic congestion. Active transportation also helps schools use fuel, equipment, and time more efficiently than current drop-off and bus systems.
More information about these benefits created by the work that the Partnership does with data-backed evidence can be found on the National Safe Routes to School website!
Partnership members:
Bike Walk Knoxville, City of Knoxville Engineering, City of Knoxville Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, Knox County Engineering & Public Works, Knox County Health Department, Knox County Schools, Knoxville's Community Development Corporation, Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, United Way - Community Schools, Knox County Government
National Movement
Safe Routes to School is not just a great thing happening in Knox County. It is an national movement led by the Safe Routes to School Partnership, which provides resources and expertise to communities wanting to make walking and biking to school safer.
Bike Walk Knoxville observes and promotes two international events annually that encourage students, families, and communities to walk, bike, and use other non-motorized forms of transportation to get to school for the day. Walk & Roll to School Day is observed in October and Bike & Roll to School Day is observed in May. More information about each event can be found below!
Walk & Roll to School Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 15, 2025!
Bike & Roll to School Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 6, 2026!
Dogwood Elementary Fun Walk 2018
Our Work
Bike Walk Knoxville has worked with several schools across Knox County to start walking programs and create safer spaces for students to walk and bike to school.
To find out what we can do together in your school community, please complete our request form:
Bike Racks at Schools
Is your school in need of a bike rack? Let us know! Reach out to Hannah Kitterman at [email protected].
Walking School Bus at Beaumont Magnet Academy, 2023
Bike to School Day at South Knoxville Elementary, 2021
Bike to School Day at Sequoyah Elementary, 2021
Resources
Check out this video from West View’s Walking School Bus program and these videos made by the Knox County Health Department in partnership with Safety City about pedestrian safety tips.