Safe Routes to School

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

Elementary Schools (rotating schedule)

2024, 2027, 2030:

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

2025, 2028, 2031:

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

2026, 2029, 2032:

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

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, school 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.

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

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 Students

Walking

• Walk with friends or family when you can
• Use locations with crossing guards and crosswalk signals
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
• Wear bright or reflective clothing

Biking

• Wear a helmet
• Ride on the right side of the street, with the flow of traffic
• Ride on sidewalks if needed
• Use hand signals
• 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 road 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 wears a properly fitted helmet
• 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

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.

• Northwest Trails Hunt (PDF)(PDF, 5MB)
• Poudre River Hunt (PDF)(PDF, 462KB)
• Southeast Fort Collins Hunt (PDF)(PDF, 1MB)

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

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

Use Access Fort Collins to report concerns such as:

• Broken sidewalks
• Missing signage
• Unsafe crossings
• Unsafe driver behavior

SRTS began in 2006 with a grant to improve sidewalks near Dunn Elementary. Today, the program educates 5,000 to 6,000 students each year, with an estimated 28% 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 bicycling 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