Safe Routes to School
Our Vision
The efforts of Safe Routes to School in San Mateo County result in less traffic congestion around schools, improved air quality, a greener, healthier community and an increase in self-reliance among San Mateo County children who walk and bike to school. Safe Routes to School is the catalyst for teaching children traffic safety skills and encouraging them to take an active mode of transportation to school. San Mateo County communities support this initiative with infrastructure that provides safe passage for children.
Our Mission
San Mateo County Safe Routes to School encourages and enables school children to walk and bicycle to school by implementing projects and activities that improve the health, well-being, and safety of children, which result in less traffic congestion and emissions caused by school-related travel.
County-Wide Events
Safe Routes to School supports schools and districts in facilitating the following events. Interested in hosting an event at your school? Sign up to receive free resources and remember to share your event participation data.
Weekly/Monthly Events
Schools that have had success with special events often expand them into regular activities that occur on a regular basis, such as "Wednesday Walk to School" or "Walk and Roll (i.e., Bike) Day." Walking school buses, bicycle trains, and park and walk activities are all ongoing encouragement activities. These weekly and monthly events help to institutionalize positive behaviors and multiply the benefits of the activities, enabling walking and biking to become the preferred mode of travel from home to school.
El Camino Real Demonstration
Road safety initiatives bring forth innovation in South San Francisco. The Smart Growth America pilot program, Complete Streets Leadership Academy (CSLA) partners with the City of South San Francisco on a complete streets quick-build. With the support of CalTrans, temporary traffic improvements will take place from Country Club Drive to South Spruce Avenue on El Camino Real which will go live in July 2023. In partnership with the City of South San Francisco, SMCOE Safe Routes to School will ensure students who walk, bike, and take public transit nearby the quick-build will safely travel along El Camino Real.
Learn more about the ECR Quick-Build project here.
ECR Demonstration Project Debut
Safe Routes to School Farmworker Family Event
The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Team hosted a fun event for farmworkers and their families. Thank you to all of the community partners who attended and gave out resources. Check out a short video about the event and an article from Coastside Magazine.
Watch a three-minute video about the event!
Read the article HERE on page 39.
Resources
Reserving the Bike Blender
A bike blender is a bike pedal-powered blender. They are a great tool to reward participation in Safe Routes to School Program activities, teach about health and wellness, and enhance Safe Routes to School education and encouragement activities. To reserve our bike blender, send an email to srts@smcoe.org.
Safe Routes to School Video Playlist
Need a video tutorial that provides instructions on how to properly fit a helmet? Visit the San Mateo County Office of Education's Youtube channel to view the Safe Routes to School video playlist. To see the entire SMCOE Safe Routes to School playlist, visit here.
Student Art



























Ben Estrada
School Transportation Equity Fellow (Americorps)
Email: bestrada@smcoe.org
Phone: (650) 802-5439
Tianny Zapata
Transportation, Sustainability and Equity Fellow (Americorps)
Email: tzapata@smcoe.org
Phone: (650) 802-5423