What is Safe Routes to School?

Safe Routes to School 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 teachers and other adult volunteers accompany children walking to or from school resulting in healthier students and a safe environment. Safe Routes programming also helps reduce traffic surrounding schools, leads to better academic performance, and can reduce student absences and tardiness.

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.

For more information or to start a program at your school, please reach out to Lindsey Kimble at [email protected]

SRTS in Knox County

Bike Walk Knoxville coordinates the Knox County Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Partnership, which works to promote safe walking and biking to schools throughout Knox County. The partnership brings together engineers, school employees, community members, nonprofits, government partners and more.

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. 

National Movement

Safe Routes to School is not just a great thing happening in Knox County. It actually is a national movement led by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, which provides resources and expertise to communities wanting to make walking and biking to school safer.

Save the date - National Walk and Roll to School Day will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023!

Save the date - National Bike and Roll to School Day will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024!

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