BikeWalk Provo supports Safer Routes to School because every child deserves a safe, healthy, and independent way to get to class. We advocate for community infrastructure and policies that make it easier and safer for students to walk, bike, or roll to school because doing so benefits everyone.

Walking or biking to school helps kids arrive more alert and ready to learn, get daily physical activity that supports lifelong health, and build confidence navigating their neighborhoods. It also reduces traffic congestion near schools, cuts down on air pollution, and saves families time and money.

In Utah, all elementary and middle schools are required to create and share Safe Routes Plans—maps that identify the safest ways for students to get to school. Safe Routes Utah provides free resources to help families, schools, and communities support student safety and active transportation. For more detailed guidance and tools for cities and school districts, the Utah Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program outlines how public entities can build safer streets around schools.

BikeWalk Provo works alongside parents, educators, and local officials to make sure these plans lead to real, visible changes—like new crosswalks, slower traffic, and safer sidewalks.

Some of our Safe Routes–focused efforts and accomplishments in Provo include:

• Crossing Improvements near Schools: Advocated for safer school crossings like the ones at 600 E and Center Street near Provo Peaks Elementary and at 600 W and 500 N near Timpanogos Elementary.

• School-Area Infrastructure: Supported neighborhood bikeways on 200 E, 800 E, 940/960 N, and 300 W—all commonly used by students and families commuting to nearby schools.

• Multi-Use Sidewalks and Trails: Helped bring about multi-use sidewalks near schools (e.g., on 500 W and 900 E), along with trail enhancements on the Provo River Trail and Lakeview Parkway Trail that serve as vital connections for students and families.

• Bike Parking at Schools: Provided free consultation and installation of dozens of bike racks at schools across Provo to make biking to school more convenient and secure.

• Annual Bike to School Week: Since 2011, we’ve partnered with Provo City School District to host Bike to School Week each spring, helping hundreds of students and their families form more active commuting habits.

• Advocacy and School Planning: Arranged for consulting on how to rebuild several elementary schools and Provo High School with bike and pedestrian-friendly designs.

• Public Engagement and Tactical Urbanism: Carried out projects in front of schools and on school routes—like buffered bike lane pilots, street improvements, and walk audits—to push for permanent safety upgrades.

Together with the community, we’re making Provo a place where more children can safely walk and bike to school—every day of the year.