Safe Routes to School

children walking bicycles through a crosswalk

The City of Fort Collins' nationally recognized Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program helps students walk, bike, roll or take the bus to school safely. We work with partners like Poudre School District, Bike Fort Collins, Safe Kids Northern Colorado and others to make active travel easier and safer for families, offering:

  • In-school bike and pedestrian safety lessons
  • Infrastructure improvements around schools
  • Traffic safety enforcement in school zones

Where You'll See Us: Spring 2026

We'll be at these schools:

  • Elementary schools: Bauder, Lopez, McGraw
  • Middle schools: Blevins, Boltz, Kinard, Lincoln, Preston, Webber
  • High schools: Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre, Rocky Mountain

Resources

Schedule: What Schools We'll Be At

STRS education programs will be at the following schools, on a rotating schedule:

Elementary Schools (rotating schedule)

2024, 2027, 2030:

  • Spring: Harris, Riffenburgh, Shepherdson
  • Fall: Bacon, Bennett, Dunn

2025, 2028, 2031:

  • Spring: Irish, O'Dea, Putnam
  • Fall: Johnson, Laurel, Tavelli

2026, 2029, 2032:

  • Spring: Bauder, Lopez, McGraw
  • Fall: Beattie, Linton, Zach

Kruse, Olander, Polaris, Traut and Werner Elementary Schools aren't on a regular rotation due to scheduling issues or because students already receive bike-ped activities outside normal curriculum, like bike field trips.

Our goal is to visit every elementary school once every three years with in-depth bike-ped safety program, giving K-5 students one to two years of exposure to our program before they go to middle school.

Middle Schools

  • Every year: Blevins, Boltz, Kinard, Lesher, Lincoln, Preston, Webber

The middle school program focuses on one grade level only (normally sixth), giving nearly all public-school students three years of program exposure before high school. Individual students may participate in additional bike-ped activities like National Bike and Roll to School Day, National Walk and Roll to School Day, Bike Week, school biking or walking clubs and camps, bike-ped assemblies, Family Bike Rodeos, biking/walking field trips and other SRTS-related activities in the community.

High Schools

  • Every year: Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre, Rocky Mountain

The high-school program includes the standard Bike PE curriculum plus a "Bicycle Friendly Driver" certification.

Charter schools, private schools and youth organizations also receive SRTS programming by request.

Upcoming Events

Find our major events on the City's Engage calendar.

Choosing a Safe Route

Use our interactive map to plan your trip to school. It shows:

  • Bike lanes and trails
  • Crosswalks and signals
  • Crossing guard locations
  • Bike racks at schools
  • Transfort bus routes and stops

Tips for Traveling Safely

Tips For Students

Walking
  • Walk with friends or family when you can
  • Use crossing guards and crosswalk signals
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
  • Wear bright or reflective clothing
Biking
  • Ride on the right side of the street, with traffic
  • Use hand signals and wear a helmet
  • Check that your bike works properly before riding
  • Walk your bike across streets and in busy areas
Riding the Bus
  • Arrive a few minutes early
  • Stay on the sidewalk or shoulder while waiting
  • Let people off the bus before you get on
  • Sit near the front if you’re riding alone
  • Cross streets safely when getting to and from the stop

Tips For Parents and Caregivers

  • Walk or bike with young children whenever possible
  • Organize or join a walking school bus or bike train
  • Choose routes with crosswalks, signals, and lower-speed streets
  • Make sure your child’s bike fits properly and is in good working condition
  • Encourage your child to wear reflective clothing or lights if traveling in low light
  • Review bus stop safety with your child, including safe crossing behavior and proper bus etiquette

Walking and Biking Scavenger Hunts

Explore Fort Collins while learning safety tips! Complete a scavenger hunt and email your answers to scavengerhunt@fortcollins.gov for a chance to win prizes.

These documents are provided for printing purposes. For assistance viewing or reading these documents, please contact the City's ADA Coordinator via email adacoordinator@fortcollins.gov or phone: 970-416-4254. 

Tips for a great hunt:

  • Bring snacks and water
  • Wear a helmet and sunscreen
  • Follow trail signs and stay to the right

Request Our Curriculum

Want to teach safety at your school or community group? Request the SRTS curriculum.

Report a Safety Problem

Use Access Fort Collins to report concerns such as:

  • Broken sidewalks
  • Missing signage
  • Unsafe crossings

Program Background

SRTS began in 2006 with a grant to improve sidewalks near Dunn Elementary. Today, the program reaches 5,000-6,000 students each year, with 28 percent of kindergarten through eighth grade students within Poudre School District (PSD) regularly using active transportation.

We now have:

  • Three staff positions
  • 250 bikes and adaptive devices
  • Partners such as the Bike Fort Collins, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Overland Mountain Bike Association, Poudre School District and Safe Kids Northern Colorado