Safe Routes to School

The City of Santa Clarita and the Sherriff’s department   currently supports several on-going Safe Routes to School programs:

·  Adult Crossing Guards

·  Suggested Route to School Maps

·  Sherriff’s Student Valet Program

·  Sherriff’s Teen Traffic Offender Program

·  School-Area Signage Inventory

As part of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, the City of Santa Clarita is expanding on these existing programs by conducting a Pilot Safe Routes to Schools Program.  Participating schools are Santa Clarita Elementary, Cedarcreek Elementary, Newhall Elementary and Canyon Springs Elementary. 

Santa Clarita has been awarded a grant from the State of California to construct physical improvements at three of the pilot schools and to expand the pilot program to all of the City’s elementary schools over the next three years.

Safe Routes to School uses a variety of programs and tools to make it easier and safer for children to walk and bike to school.  Safe Routes to Schools Programs are a collaboration between parents, teachers, school administrators, city staff,  and law enforcement.  Successful programs involve the “Four E’s”:

Education             Student bicycle skills class.

Driver safety education campaign.

Encouragement     Games and contests.

Walk and bike to school days.

Enforcement         Targeted enforcement by Sherriff.

Informal enforcement by school staff.

Engineering          Installing signs and crosswalks.

Constructing paths, sidewalks and curb extensions.

Santa Clarita’s Pilot Safe Routes to School Program includes:

·  Conducting “walk audits” around the schools to evaluate drop-off and pick-up conditions.

See photos from the Walk Audit at Canyon Springs.

·  Presenting the Safe Routes to Schools concepts to parents, teachers and administrators.

Download Presentation [PDF 1.6 MB]

·  Providing a handout detailing additional information about Safe Routes to Schools

Download Handout [PDF 1.6 MB]

·  Developing “Improvement Plans” for the schools that will help reduce motorist-pedestrian-bicycle conflicts.

Cedarcreek Elementary Improvement Plan [489 KB]

Newhall Elementary Improvement Plan [605 KB]

Santa Clarita Elementary Improvement Plan [577 KB]

Bicyclists Safety Program

Bicyclists who ride along the City’s bike trails or take to the streets can learn how they can be safer through a free educational program offered from the City of Santa Clarita.

The program includes a presentation of videos and general knowledge on the rules of the road, and tips on how bikes and motor vehicles can safely co-exist. John Lukes, a bike advocate, has been presenting this program to residents since March 1996.

This free program is available upon request to businesses, schools, and organizations, and can be geared towards the level of experience and age of the participants.

For more information, please call Pat Downing at the City of Santa Clarita, (661) 284-1472.