The Safe Routes to School program is a team effort between the City of Bozeman, the Western Transportation Institute, School District 7, local private schools, and other community groups. 

The goal is to make it safer and more fun for kids to get to and from school on foot, by bike, or by using the school bus. The program runs throughout the school year and hopes to grow with more activities that encourage safe walking and rolling to school.

Safe Routes to School events to look forward to:

• Bike Rodeos happen in the spring and fall. Kids are invited to bring their bikes for a fun afternoon of bike safety instruction, skills and agility games, and bike related activities. Community partners provide engagement opportunities and local bike shops provide minor bike maintenance free of charge.
• The Walking School Bus program was tested at Hyalite and Meadowlark Elementary schools last year and was very popular.
• Morningstar Elementary organizes a Bike Train to encourage students to ride as a group to and from school. The bike train meets, weather permitting, and travels from Tuckerman Park to the school.
• Teachers in School District 7 are big fans of Safe Routes to School and offer in-classroom and on-bike safety instruction when possible.
• Local community sponsors give away free helmets and other resources to students who need them. They also assist at events with fun activities, bike checks, and helmet fittings.

Connecting Families - School Pool

School Pool is a secure, online directory system that connects families who are interested in sharing the trip to school - whether by carpooling, walking, or biking together.

School Pool:

• Supports our parents by helping families save time, reduce stress, and coordinate rides for school and after school activities
• Supports our schools by reducing traffic congestion at pick-up and drop-off and creating a safer environment for students walking and biking
• Supports our community by building stronger connections between families and encourages a healthier, more sustainable travel

Each participating school has a unique registration link for privacy and security. Parents interested in this program can contact program manager Jennifer MacFarlane for more information: jennifer.macfarlane@montana.edu

School Transportation Survey Results

Parents were polled for their family's school day commuter habits earlier this year. The results of this survey are provided below as an infographic. 

A summary of the results of the district-wide survey showed:

• Almost 60% of families utilize a family vehicle to drop kids off at school
• More parents would like to adopt walking and biking as ways to get to school
• Many parents felt like traffic is a barrier to their kids walking and biking to school

Survey Results Infographic

Resources

Bike Rodeo Primer

This Bike Rodeo Primer was developed for school administrators and teachers to help set up events for their schools.

Safe Routes Partnership

The Safe Routes Partnership is a national nonprofit that provides support  for safe walking and rolling and improvement of health and well-being in communities.

NACTO Safe Systems Approach

The City of Bozeman is a member of NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials) and this organization has some excellent resources on safety and the built environment.

League of American Bicyclists

The City of Bozeman is also a member of the League of American Bicyclists and is designated a "Silver" Bicycle Friendly Community. This affiliation shows a commitment to improving safety and opportunities for active transportation for community members of all ages and abilities.