Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a nationwide program that aims to significantly improve safety for students who walk and bike to school.
Physical Aspects: improve sidewalks, crosswalks, curb extensions and install traffic signs along designated safe routes.
Education: Promote safety, enforce traffic rules, and encourage students to participate in the program.
Safety Tips for Walkers
Safety Tips for Cyclists
Safety Tips for Drivers
When thinking of parking lots, you may not normally think of the potential hazards associated with it.
Both pedestrians and drivers should view parking lots as if they were streets and intersections. After all, they do have set speed limits and have the same traffic markings to indicate traffic patterns. Here are safety tips for both pedestrians and drivers to help you stay safe in parking lots.
It is important to remind everyone to take caution when traveling around schools especially during arrival and dismissal time.
Student safety is one of the most important jobs we have, especially at the beginning of a school year when routines are impacted on our roads, in our neighborhoods, and near schools. Safety should be a priority for everyone. We want children to get to and from school safely. Here are few helpful reminders:
School officials, bus operators, parents, and students themselves are all responsible for ensuring that school bus riders follow these safety tips:
The Maryland Center for School Safety requests that local school systems and school safety coordinators disseminate the school bus safety resources found at the following links to their public schools and other partners that may find this information valuable.
If there are any questions, please contact Kate Bryan, Executive Director, Maryland Center for School Safety at kate.bryan@maryland.gov or at 410-281-2335.
Click image above to open and download PDF version.
Click image above to open and download PDF version.
Life is Fragile. Safety Tips for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.
There’s a feeling of joy and independence —a sense of adventure—that doesn’t fade. When walking or biking, parents and children get to appreciate things they don’t notice while driving—listening to the sounds of the neighborhood, seeing friends and neighbors and feeling connected with their community. Parents, children and friends can enjoy one another’s company without the usual distractions.
Walking and bicycling to school enables children to incorporate the regular physical activity they need each day while also forming healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Regular physical activity helps children build strong bones, muscles and joints, and it decreases the risk of obesity. In contrast, insufficient physical activity can contribute to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke.
The whole community benefits from efforts to enable and encourage more children to walk or bicycle to school safely. Benefits include:
Walking and bicycling events celebrate these experiences and help make them possible for others. They bring schools and communities together for a common purpose. Most of all, they are fun! For more information visit the Montgomery County Safe Routes to School website.
Walking, biking and rolling to school is a great way to promote health, identify safer routes for walking, and to improve air quality. Join hundreds of students, parents and communities around Montgomery County in celebrating on October 9, 2024!
For more information, please contact Duwan Morris, 240-777-7169 or email. You can also visit www.walkbiketoschool.org for additional information.
On May 7, 2025 thousands of students, parents, teachers, and communities across the nation will participate in National Bike & Roll to School Day (BRTS). This event highlights the importance of bicycling as a fun, healthy, and safe way to get to school and around town. Participating in National Bike & Roll to School Day and hosting an event is a great way to teach safe bicycling skills and encourage biking. Use the momentum of your BRTS event to encourage bicycling and walking to school on a regular basis.
For more information, resources, and to register your school please visit www.WalkBiketoSchool.org.
Mark the date on your calendar!
There is no state or federal law setting a legal age minimum before children can walk to school alone. Children, even if they are in the same grade, vary in their readiness to handle traffic situations. In general, children are not ready to cross a street alone until age 10.
Parents are responsible for selecting their student’s walking routes to and from bus stops and schools. Parents are encouraged to walk with students to and from school bus stops or school, especially younger students. Doing so enables parents to teach safe walking practices, safe bus-waiting practices, and traffic awareness, and to model wellness by walking for exercise. This is also a good time to talk about "stranger danger." Remind children that they should not approach just anyone. If they need help, look for a uniformed police officer, a store clerk with a nametag, or a parent with children.
Parents should also remind children of the importance of asking permission before going anywhere with anyone and that they should pay attention to what people do. Make sure they know to tell you right away if anyone asks them to keep a secret, makes them feel uncomfortable, or tries to get them to go with them.
For additional information about when children are ready to walk alone, see the resource developed by the National Center for Safe Routes to School called Teaching Children to Walk Safely as They Grow and Develop.
If your bus stop has been relocated or you have a concern with your current bus stop location, please contact your Transportation Cluster Manager.
Check your bus routes and see updated information regarding bus location through here.
If you would like to request that sidewalks be installed in your neighborhood, you can submit a request online. This link will take you to the Division of Transportation Engineering. On this page you will be able to see an interactive map of pending sidewalk requests, see completed sidewalk requests, and submit a sidewalk application form.
If there is a crosswalk that needs to be restriped or if there is no crosswalk where you think there should be, please contact Montgomery County Department of Transportation at 311 or via email. You may also use these contacts if you have any questions/requests for school signage or school flashers.
View more pedestrian and bicycle videos, websites, and educational guides.
