School Commute Planning

Everyone wins when we choose active and sustainable school transportation options. Below lists the benefits of active and sustainable school transportation for students and caregivers who walk and wheel to and from school or the bus stop:

Health and Wellbeing

• Support physical and mental health
• Decrease stress, anxiety and depression
• Encourage social interaction and improve social skills
• Promote lifelong healthy commuting habits

Personal & Road Safety

• Reduce traffic congestion
• Lower risk of collision and injury
• Practice valuable pedestrian, cycling and transit skills
• More eyes on the street with safety in numbers

Climate Action & Air Quality

• Lower environmental footprint
• Reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions
• Improve air quality by reducing air pollution
• Lower risk of lung and cardiovascular disease

Academic & Life-skills

• Arrive energized and more able to concentrate 
• Improve student learning and academic outcomes
• Cultivate decision-making and time and risk management skills
• Build confidence, capability, independence and autonomy

Community & Household

• Save time and money
• Better understand the local area
• Increase sense of belonging and community connection
• Relieve pressure and stress from household routine

Check out The Benefits of Active and Sustainable School Transportation [PDF/228KB]

Ready Step Roll aims to help more students use active and sustainable modes of transportation for their commute to and from school, using a school catchment and neighbourhood-based planning process.

Active and sustainable transportation includes riding bikes, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards, wheelchairs or the bus, all or part-way to and from school.

Similar initiatives have been successful in many communities across Canada and worldwide. The 2016 report International Best Practices in Regional Planning for School Travel looks at a number of case studies and key learnings.

Transportation is a key regional priority for the CRD Board. It envisions residents having access to a convenient, green and affordable Regional Multi-modal Network (RMN) that enhances community well-being. A RMN is a desired network of regionally significant transportation corridors, including major roads and trails, connecting with local and provincial networks and centers. Along the RMN, walking, cycling and using transit are viable alternatives to driving.

The CRD works with municipalities and school communities in its Ready Step Roll Sustainable School Commute Planning initiative. This initiative aims to help more students use active and sustainable modes of transportation for their commute to and from school, using a school catchment and neighbourhood-based planning process.

The final Sustainable School Commute Planning Report lists the actions arising from the initiative. The final report also shows the teamwork with multiple community partners including parents, students, school administration, school boards, transportation planners and engineers, public health agencies and law enforcement.

The CRD collaborates with multiple community partners to help develop individual school action plans. These plans aim to create equitable solutions for identified barriers to active school travel. Since each school community has unique jurisdictional considerations and service structures, individual Ready Step Roll schools often have additional partners not listed here. Review the Final Reports for the full list of partnerships and interest holder consultations.

To develop plans, the CRD works alongside:

• Provincial Government Transportation Engineers and Planners
• Local Government Transportation Engineers and Planners
• School Communities (Principals, PACs, School Districts, Parents, Guardians and Students)
• Local Community Health, Safety, Education, and Enforcement Agencies (ICBC, VIHA, Police, Crossing Guards, CRD Traffic Safety Commission, Capital Bike, Cycling BC IRide or other local cycle education groups)