Minnesota Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School Resource Index

The Minnesota Safe Routes to School Online Resource Center is a one-stop shop for tools and resources to assist with Safe Routes to School efforts. This page contains a variety of tip sheets, guides and other resources in the following categories:

Start here [video link] – How to start a SRTS program at your school
Overview of SRTS Poster [.pdf, English and Spanish versions] – High-level overview of SRTS and the 5 E’s
Benefits of Safe Routes to School [.pdf] - A poster describing the benefits of SRTS programs in areas including climate benefits, safety, and health
MnSRTS 101 [.ppt] - a PowerPoint presentation outlining the basics of Safe Routes to School. Includes speaker notes so you can present to your target audience!
Building Blocks: A Guide to Starting and Growing a Strong SRTS Program [link] – This toolkit will take you step by step through how to start a program, how to get your school and city on board, and how to make your program stronger over time
Safe Routes to School and Health [.pdf] - physical activity benefits of Safe Routes to School and strategies for measuring those benefits
What is Safe Routes to School? [.pdf] - statistics that explain Safe Routes to School, including traffic congestion, safety, health and obesity, environment and bus transportation costs
SRTS Programs Poster [.pdf] – A menu of SRTS programs in the areas of Education, Encouragement, and Enforcement

See our Grants and Funding page [link] for an explanation of the different types of funding available
MnDOT Safe Routes to School Grants [link] - information and solicitation details for MnDOT’s current infrastructure and non-infrastructure grants, including Planning Assistance, Bike Fleets, Boost Grants, Infrastructure, and more
MDH Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grants [link] support community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating and commercial tobacco-free living
Blue Cross Blue Shield MN Center for Prevention grants [link] invest in initiatives that drive policy, systems and environmental change
The AARP Community Challenge grant [link] is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages.
Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program [link] provides funds to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses

Community Engagement

Overview of SRTS Poster [.pdf, English and Spanish versions] – High-level overview of SRTS and the 5 E’s
SRTS Handbook [.pdf] - benefits of Safe Routes to School, assembling a Safe Routes to School team, assessing local sidewalks and roadways, examining policies, determining goals, identifying action steps, tracking progress and more
Engaging Stakeholders in the Safe Routes to School Planning Process [.pdf] – How to build a team, gather information, maximize outreach, and plan implementation
SRTS Programs Poster [.pdf] – Examples and descriptions of SRTS programs in the areas of Education, Encouragement, and Enforcement
SRTS Community Engagement cards [.pdf] – The Safe Routes Partnership Community Engagement Cards are a collection of arts-based activities that foster community building through creativity. Each activity is designed to spark curiosity, encourage free expression, and engage diverse people in a variety of settings
SRTS Visioning [.pdf] – Poster that can be printed out for an engagement event to encourage participants to share their vision for walking and biking to school
SRTS engagement tool [.pdf] – This poster is ideal for engaging parents and students at school events or SRTS team meetings. The tool can print in a large format and allows parents and students to vote (with stickers) for the answers that most resonate with their concerns. Based on the SRTS parent survey questions, this is a great conversation starter

Safe Routes to School Planning

Planning for Safe Routes to School: A Primer [link] – This webinar series can be used to train a new Safe Routes to School team and prepare for the Safe Routes planning process
Starting a SRTS Team tip sheet [.pdf] – Forming a Safe Routes to School team is a great way to get started with Safe Routes to School programs or planning
Engaging Stakeholders in the Safe Routes to School Planning Process [.pdf] – How to build a team, gather information, maximize outreach, and plan implementation
Walk Audit Tip sheet [.pdf] - Information on walk audits, when to plan them, how to prepare, who to invite, what to look for and more
School Zone Hazard Assessment Tool [.pdf] - Identifies critical issues that decrease safety in the immediate area around the school (i.e. distractions, illegal parking/pick up, unsafe crossing or helmet usage). Use the School Zone Hazard Analysis Guide Worksheet [.xlsx] to quickly analyze your observation tallies
Guide to Pedestrian and Bicycling Route maps [.pdf] - how to create route maps and arrival/dismissal maps for your school
StreetMix [link] - Remix your street to add bike paths, widen sidewalks using this interactive tool
Building a Team of Dynamic Stakeholders [.pdf] – Roles for a diverse range of stakeholders and what they can bring to SRTS
MS Word Executive Summary template [.docx, 17.74 MB] – Use this Executive Summary template to provide an overview page for your Safe Routes to School plan
MS Word Plan template [.docx, 609 KB] – Use this template to lay out your Safe Routes to School Plan
Contact your local Metropolitan Planning Organization or Regional Development Organization [link] for information about transportation planning and potential funding sources

Systemic Racism, Explained [video link] - Systemic racism affects every area of life in the US. From incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. Here's a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it
At the Intersection of Active Transportation and Equity [.pdf] - why equity and active transportation matter. Addresses tensions, describes opportunities and explores equitable programs and initiatives
Implementing Safe Routes to School in Low-Income Schools and Communities [.pdf] - overview and explanation of six key challenges to implementing Safe Routes to School in low-income communities and specific steps to get started
Using Safe Routes to School to Combat the Threat of Violence [.pdf] - In some communities, the danger of violence and crime discourages children from walking to school and keeps people off the street, limiting physical activity and restricting errands and trips. Using a framework known as the “Six E’s,” we identify specific kinds of actions that can combat violence and support Safe Routes to School
Personal Safety In Safe Routes to School: Addressing Violence and Crime in Your Community [.pdf] - This fact sheet is a companion to Taking Back the Streets and Sidewalks: How Safe Routes to School and Community Safety Initiatives Can Overcome Violence and Crime
Taking Back the Streets and Sidewalks: How Safe Routes to School and Community Safety Initiatives Can Overcome Violence and Crime [.pdf] - This report provides a primer for Safe Routes to School professionals looking to address community safety threats that may discourage or endanger students walking or bicycling to school
Rural Communities: Best Practices and Promising Approaches for Safe Routes [.pdf] - This tip sheet describes the needs for and benefits of Safe Routes to School in rural areas, explores the challenges that may arise, spells out specific approaches that show promise, and showcases successful rural examples
Engaging Students with Disabilities in Safe Routes to School [.pdf] - An info brief that provides information for Safe Routes to School staff, volunteers, or program leaders on how to plan and develop a program that considers and meets the needs of students with disabilities

Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum [link] - designed specifically for Minnesota’s schools, this two-part curriculum helps children ages 5 to 13 learn traffic rules and regulations, potential hazards to traveling, and handling skills needed to bike and walk. Newly added components of the curriculum will help educators use this curriculum in classrooms with students who need help or assistance walking and biking
Walk! Bike! Fun! At Home Distance Learning resources! [link] - These lessons include both worksheets and outdoor walking and biking activities. We have created these resources so that each activity has options of how the student may complete it, depending on the equipment and technology available to them
Rodeo 101 Bike and Pedestrian Education and Celebration [.pdf] - What are Bike Rodeos/Bike Clinics? This resource has instructions and scripts to run a bike rodeo (bicycle skills course)
SRTS Tips for Parents [.pdf] – Quick tip sheet for parents to contribute to a safe environment for walking and bicycling to school
Safe Routes to School and Student Leaders: Facilitator's Guide to Engaging Middle School Youth [.pdf] - Education guide specifically aimed at middle schoolers
Crossing Guard guide[.pdf] - helps schools, school districts, law enforcement agencies and other entities better understand the roles, rules and guidance for crossing guard selection, placement, training and uniform
Crossing Guard Training [link] - This training provides a standard minimum amount of training for adult crossing guards throughout the state
AAA Student Safety Patrol Training [link] - The Minnesota Safe Routes to School program partners with AAA Minnesota-Iowa to offer an online training for school safety patrollers in Minnesota
Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center [link] - training resource for school safety and school bus patrols

MnSRTS Infrastructure Quick Reference Guide [.pdf] – Detailed information about a variety of treatments that can improve safety conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
Keep Calm and Carry On to School: Improving Arrival and Dismissal for Walking and Biking [.pdf] – This brief provides information on how schools, districts, cities and counties, and community partners can address arrival and dismissal in developing school travel plans
2020 Bike Facility Design Manual [.pdf] – MnDOT’s guidance on context-sensitive bicycle facility treatments
Minnesota’s Best Practices for Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety [.pdf] – resource to assist with the development of Safe Routes to School plans or projects
Let’s Go for a Walk: A Toolkit for Planning and Conducting a Walk Audit [.pdf] – How to conduct a neighborhood walk audit. Includes a sample one-page school neighborhood walk audit and a sample general walk audit checklist
School Zone Resources [.pdf] – two-page overview of laws and best practices related to school zones in Minnesota
School Streets Guide [.pdf] – Guide to developing and implementing School Streets and Park & Walk
Demonstration Project Implementation Guide [.pdf] – A Resource for the Development of Short Term, Low Cost, Temporary Roadway Projects to Promote and Advance Walking and Bicycling
American with Disabilities Act - Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments [link] – This Toolkit is designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. It will also teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access
Helping Johnny Walk to School [.pdf] – Policy recommendations for removing barriers to community-centered schools

Events

Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day [link] are widely popular national events to encourage students to walk and bicycle to school and involve parents and the school community. Walk to School Day [link] is typically held the first week of October, and Bike to School Day [link] is held the first week of May, although schools can adapt events to fit their schedules
Winter Walk to School Day [link] – In Minnesota, we also celebrate walking to school in winter, the first week of February
Winter Walking 101 [.pdf] – Follow these helpful tips to learn how to encourage students to continue walking to school all winter long, and learn about the many benefits of winter walking
Walk and Bike to School Events Quick Tip sheet [.pdf] – quick reference for planning a successful Walk or Bike to School Day
Rodeo 101 [.pdf] – Bicycle rodeo 101; including their purpose, how to organize and lay out the events, and what stations to set up

Walking School Bus

Walking School Bus Quick Tip sheet [.pdf] – learn about walking school buses and how to start a new program
Walking School Bus Guide [.pdf] – The purpose of this step-by-step guide is to provide a clear description of how to plan and organize a walking school bus using adult volunteers as leaders
Walking School Bus online training modules [link] – This training highlights important tips and strategies for planning a walking school bus program. Participants will gain an understanding of how to prepare, build momentum and launch a walking school bus program, including identifying community partners and securing program funding

Bike Train

Bicycling to School Together, A Bike Train Quick Planning Guide [.pdf] – tips and ideas to plan, prepare for and participate in a neighborhood bike train
The Wheels on the Bike Go Round & Round: How to Get a Bike Train Rolling at Your School [.pdf] – The purpose of this guide is to provide a simple description of how to plan and organize a bike train. This guide outlines how to put together and run a bike train program at your school, including initial planning considerations, logistics, promotion, training, and evaluation
Get Rolling with a Bike Train Program: Frequently Asked Questions [.pdf] – This FAQ also provides steps to get your bike train rolling

Park and Walk

Park and Walk one-pager [.pdf]
Park and Walk guide [.pdf]
Park and Walk planning checklist [.docx]
Park and Walk parent letter [.docx]
Park and Walk neighbor letter [.docx]
Park and Walk Volunteer letter [.docx]
Park and Walk sample survey questions [.docx]
Pedestrian Safety Education Resources [.pdf]

Evaluation Tip sheet [.pdf] – Quick tip sheet on evaluation best practices and FAQs
Evaluation (National Center for Safe Routes to School) [link] – Basics of evaluation, including benefits, audience, and purpose
User Guide for all Evaluation Tools [.pdf] – Information and instructions on how to use the MnSRTS Evaluation toolkit
Parent Surveys [link; English and Spanish versions] and Student Tallies [link] – Essential tools for understanding parent concerns and barriers to address in your program while measuring baseline mode counts (walk/bike/bus/automobile) based on grade
School Zone Hazard Assessment Tool [.pdf] - Identifies critical issues that decrease safety in the immediate area around the school (i.e. distractions, illegal parking/pick up, unsafe crossing or helmet usage). Use the School Zone Hazard Analysis Guide Worksheet [.xlsx] to quickly analyze your observation tallies
School Environment and Policy Assessment [link] - Identify what aspects of environment and policy in the school zone create a safe and appealing walking and biking environment, and what aspects need improvement
SRTS Plan Implementation Survey [link] - A survey to gather information on SRTS plans that are in development or implementation phases to better understand the impact of plan strategies on building a successful SRTS program
School Implementation Progress Checklist [link] - Measures the progress of implementation of Safe Routes to School activities at a specific school with or without a SRTS plan
Let’s Go for a Walk: A Toolkit for Planning and Conducting a Walk Audit [.pdf] - This toolkit gives you the information and tools to hold your own walk audit that will help you achieve the goals of your community. Includes a sample one-page school neighborhood walk audit and a sample general walk audit checklist
Walk Audit tip sheet [.pdf] – Quick tip sheet with step by step instructions to conduct a walk audit to observe behavior and needed infrastructure improvements

Safe Routes to School Handbook [.pdf] – benefits of Safe Routes to School, assembling a Safe Routes to School team, assessing local sidewalks and roadways, examining policies, determining goals, identifying action steps, tracking progress and more
Communications Toolkit for Schools and School Districts [.pdf] – Learn to target your message to communicate to different audiences about Safe Routes to School
Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum [link] – designed specifically for Minnesota’s schools, this two-part curriculum helps children ages 5 to 13 learn traffic rules and regulations, potential hazards to traveling and handling skills needed to bike and walk
Technical Assistance Implementing Walk! Bike! Fun! [link] – The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is offering free technical assistance for schools or youth organizations who want help starting a program using the Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum to teach kids safe walking and bicycling skills
Keep Calm and Carry On to School [.pdf] – Improving Arrival and Dismissal for Walking and Biking
Walk and Bike to School Events [link] are widely popular national events to encourage students to walk and bicycle to school and involve parents and the school community. Walk to School Day [link] is typically held the first week of October, and Bike to School Day [link] is held the first week of May, although schools can adapt events to fit their schedules
SRTS District Policy Workbook [.doc] – This workbook is designed to help school board members, administrators, families of students, and community members create and implement policies that support active transportation and Safe Routes to School programs
Bike Fleet Guide [link] - Learn more about acquiring, managing and maintaining a bike fleet
Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School [.pdf] – This resource reviews public policies that affect neighborhoods around schools and the ability of communities to preserve landmark schools for educational use
Helping Johnny Walk to School [.pdf] – Policy recommendations for removing barriers to community-centered schools

Crossing Guards and Student Safety Patrol

Crossing Guard Training [link] - This training provides a standard minimum amount of training for adult crossing guards throughout the state
AAA Student Safety Patrol Training [link] - The Minnesota Safe Routes to School program partners with AAA Minnesota-Iowa to offer an online training for school safety patrollers in Minnesota
Legionville School Safety Patrol Training Center [link] - training resource for school safety and school bus patrols

Walking School Bus

Walking School Bus Quick tip sheet [.pdf] – learn about walking school buses and how to start a new program
Walking School Bus Guide [.pdf] – The purpose of this step-by-step guide is to provide a clear description of how to plan and organize a walking school bus using adult volunteers as leaders
Walking School Bus online training modules [link] – This training highlights important tips and strategies for planning a walking school bus program. Participants will gain an understanding of how to prepare, build momentum and launch a walking school bus program, including identifying community partners and securing program funding

Bike Train

The Wheels on the Bike Go Round & Round: How to Get a Bike Train Rolling at Your School [.pdf] – The purpose of this guide is to provide a simple description of how to plan and organize a bike train. This guide outlines how to put together and run a bike train program at your school, including initial planning considerations, logistics, promotion, training, and evaluation
Get Rolling with a Bike Train Program: Frequently Asked Questions [.pdf] – This FAQ also provides steps to get your bike train rolling
Bicycling to School Together, A Bike Train Quick Planning Guide [.pdf] – tips and ideas to plan, prepare for and participate in a neighborhood bike train

Bus Stop & Walks

Organizer’s Guide to Bus Stop and Walks [link] – Start here to learn everything you need to know to implement a Bus Stop and Walk
Bus Stop and Walk PowerPoint [.pptx] – Utilize this PowerPoint to explain BSWs to key stakeholders and gather support for your project
Bus Stop and Walk Supporting Templates [.zip] – Download editable templates that include letters to parents, volunteers and bus drivers; planning checklists and sample survey questions

Park and Walk

Park and Walk one-pager [.pdf]
Park and Walk guide [.pdf]
Park and Walk planning checklist [.docx]
Park and Walk parent letter [.docx]
Park and Walk neighbor letter [.docx]
Park and Walk Volunteer letter [.docx]
Park and Walk sample survey questions [.docx]
Pedestrian Safety Education Resources [.pdf]

School Environment and Policy Assessment [link] – Identify what aspects of environment and policy in the school zone create a safe and appealing walking and biking environment, and what aspects need improvement
Model Policies Quick Tip Sheet [.pdf] – Examples of model Safe Routes to School policies and best practices for education, evaluation, encouragement, enforcement and engineering
Safe Routes to School National Partnership Local Policy Guide [.pdf] – guidance and case studies of local policies ranging from school siting to arrival and dismissal procedures
SRTS District Policy Workbook [.doc] – This workbook is designed to help school board members, administrators, families of students, and community members create and implement policies that support active transportation and Safe Routes to School programs
School Siting (Safe Routes to School National Partnership) [link] – School siting background information, resources, and state policy best practices
National Complete Streets Coalition [link] – Introduction to Complete Streets policy
Public Health law Center: School-Zone Speed Limits in Minnesota [pdf] – Primer and FAQ on school zone speed limits in Minnesota
Association of Minnesota Counties: Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation [pdf] – one-pager FAQ on counties ability to enact local option sales tax for transportation
APBP: Essentials of Bike Parking [.pdf] – The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) prepared this guide for people planning to purchase or install bike parking fixtures on a limited scale
Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School [.pdf] – This resource reviews public policies that affect neighborhoods around schools and the ability of communities to preserve landmark schools for educational use
Helping Johnny Walk to School [.pdf] – Policy recommendations for removing barriers to community-centered schools

MnDOT Demonstration Project Implementation Guide [.pdf] – A Resource for the Development of Short Term, Low Cost, Temporary Roadway Projects to Promote and Advance Walking and Bicycling
AARP Pop-Up Demonstration Tool Kit [.pdf] – This toolkit includes guidance on community engagement, organizing, building, and maintaining the momentum for a demonstration project
Pop-ups for SRTS: using tactical urbanism to promote SRTS Programs [.pdf] – This fact sheet outlines how pop-up projects can be used to advance Safe Routes to School projects, discusses the benefits of this type of demonstration project, provides examples of communities that have used pop-ups to advance Safe Routes to School, and shares resources for helping you create pop-up Safe Routes to School projects in your community

These talking points can help you communicate with various stakeholders about the importance of Safe Routes to School, and some resources you can share.

MnSRTS Talking Points for Educators [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Elected Officials [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Law Enforcement [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Parents [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Planners and Engineers [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Public Health Professionals [.pdf]
MnSRTS Talking Points for Service Organizations [.pdf]

Minnesota Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School Resource Index

Safe Routes 101

Grants and Funding

6 E's of SRTS: Engagement

Community Engagement

Safe Routes to School Planning

6 E's of SRTS: Equity

6 E's of SRTS: Education

6 E's of SRTS: Engineering

6 E's of SRTS: Encouragement

Events

Walking School Bus

Bike Train

Park and Walk

6 E's of SRTS: Evaluation

School Resources

Crossing Guards and Student Safety Patrol

Walking School Bus

Bike Train

Bus Stop & Walks

Park and Walk

Policy & Technical Guidance

Demonstration Projects

MnSRTS Talking Points