The Active & Safe Routes to School program (ASRS), in partnership with Ever Active Schools (EAS), aims to:

  • Increase the number of students using active and sustainable modes of travel for all or part of their journey to school
  • Address and solve ongoing transportation and traffic safety issues in school areas

Joining ASRS can help fix common issues in and around school areas such as:

  • Traffic congestion at pickup and drop off
  • Students/families jaywalking
  • Concerns with students travelling alone
  • Distracted drivers, pedestrians and wheelers
  • Limited parking
  • Illegal driver behaviors (double parking, parking in crosswalks, U-turns in crosswalks, etc.)
  • Cars idling in the pick-up/drop-off zone

How the program works

Using the School Travel Planning (STP) model, we work with schools to develop and implement an action plan (check out this example), unique to each school’s needs, while aligning programming and activities with the Alberta school curriculum. Find out more about curricular connections for Kindergarten to Grade 9.

The program is student-led with administrative support. The EAS team will train the student leadership team, a multi-grade group, a whole class, or a grade team and work alongside them to bring safety improvements to life.

Find out more about our partner and how they support healthy school communities by combining Comprehensive School Health with School Travel Planning, a model that originated with Green Communities Canada and Ontario Active School Travel. 

Contact us

To learn more about the program or give feedback, contact 311 online.

Wayfinding signage pilot in New Brighton Central Park

We have installed six temporary wayfinding signs in New Brighton Central Park, a step towards promoting active and safe routes to school within the community.

The directional signage has been strategically placed to guide students, particularly young individuals, towards the three schools adjacent to New Brighton Central Park: New Brighton School, Dr. Martha Cohen School, and St. Marguerite School. In addition to these signs, detailed pathway maps have been positioned at key locations, further aiding navigation.

As part of the pilot, the wayfinding signs will remain in place until the end of October. If you have feedback about the pilot, please submit it through the link below. 

Provide your feedback

What is active school travel?

Active school travel is any form of non-motorized travel such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, roller blading, scooting or using a wheelchair to get to and from school.

Active school travel creates healthy communities with many benefits:

  • Improves safety and accessibility in and around school zones
  • Empowers students to choose an active lifestyle which can last a lifetime
  • Improves physical health which supports brain development and can lead to improved learning and attention at school
  • Improves mental and social wellbeing, and helps develop confidence and independence by getting to know their neighbourhood
  • Reduces our carbon footprint with less emissions from vehicles

What is School Travel Planning?

School Travel Planning (STP) is a community-based model that addresses barriers and incentives for active school travel.

STP is a proven cost-effective way to get more kids walking and wheeling to school. When effectively coordinated and implemented, it results in positive travel behaviour changes with health, safety, environmental, and economic benefits.

To meet the program goals, action plans use these five E's:

  1. Education - teaching and learning about the benefits of active school travel
  2. Encouragement - partnerships and services supporting active school travel
  3. Engineering - physical changes to the environment
  4. Enforcement develop a Healthy School Policy by working with Bylaw & Calgary Police Services
  5. Evaluation - assessing the impact of any changes or projects

Participating Schools

Click on the schools below to learn about some of our participants’ experiences. At the bottom of the list, you can click to see a full list of participating schools.

List of participating schools

2019/2020 2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024
École William Reid Dr. Freda Miller Hillhurst Scenic Acres Bridlewood
Manmeet Singh Bhullar Dr. EP Scarlett St. John Paul II Bayside Prairie Sky
École La Mosaique Arbour Lake Riverside St. Sebastian Eugene Coste
Dr. Martha Cohen St. Joan of Arc West Springs St. Rupert Huntington Hills
St Teresa of Calcutta Griffith Woods Crossing Park Sherwood School Valley View
St. Isabella Elementary Junior High Apostles of Jesus David Thompson Fish Creek St. Matthew
École Notre Dame de la Paix Connaught Woodbine Olympic Heights Simons Valley
New Brighton King George Acadia Sunnyside Panorama Hills
Captain Nichola Goddard St. Marguerite Stanley Jones Madeleine D'Houet St. Rose of Lima
Rideau Park Marlborough Divine Mercy Mahogany School University School
Calgary Islamic School - OBK Campus     Banting and Best School  

Easy ideas to try today

Easy and free activities to learn more about active school travel.

  • Active Travel I Spy Bingo

    Look to see how many of these items you can find while walking or wheeling on your route to school. Don’t forget to bring something to write with to check them off as you go!

  • Safe Summer Active Travel

    The squares on this activity card are intended as conversation starters. Ask students how each helps them to feel safe while actively travelling in their community. The sheet can be used for Bingo, I Spy, or even a scavenger hunt!

  • Map and Explore your 2.4

    The walk zone in most school jurisdictions is in a radius ranging from 1.6 km to 2.4 km. This step-by-step guide walks students and teachers through the mapping process using their personal computers and smartphones.

    A guide to get students and their families walking to school!

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