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Ahtisahm,
Parveen Kumar,
- Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Poornima College of Engineering ISI-6, RIICO Institutional area, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Poornima College of Engineering ISI-6, RIICO Institutional area, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Abstract
Safe routes to school (SRTS) programs aim to encourage active transportation for children through enhanced safety, accessibility, and infrastructure within the areas surrounding schools. SRTS has become increasingly popular worldwide as a method of promoting public health, decreasing traffic, and promoting community cohesion. Yet bringing SRTS to urban environments comes with special challenges. Urban locations often have high traffic volumes, inadequate pedestrian facilities, socioeconomic inequities, and variable policy backing that deter program success. Furthermore, schools in cities tend to have inadequate space and resources for mandatory safety improvements, and community engagement can be uneven across neighborhoods. This review integrates results from a mixed array of studies, including NIH-supported evaluations, policy analysis, and implementation case studies. It distills best practices like stakeholder engagement, data-informed planning, equity-oriented outreach, and alignment with larger urban mobility planning. The programs that integrated infrastructure upgrades with education and enforcement had the most persistent effects. Importantly, city SRTS efforts that focused on disadvantaged neighborhoods had greater walking and bicycling rates, lower rates of injury, and enhanced perception. The research highlights the need to adapt SRTS policy to the urban context, prioritizing flexibility, inclusivity, and intersectoral coordination. By linking SRTS to city planning and public health objectives, cities can realize the maximum potential of the programs. In all, this book embodies SRTS’s transformative potential to create healthier, safer, and more just urban spaces. It presents a guide for policymakers and practitioners looking to apply tested strategies to complex city environments.
Keywords: Safe zone, safe route, SRTS, urban, safety, pedestrian, school, traffic accidents
[This article belongs to Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications ]
Ahtisahm, Parveen Kumar. Safe Routes to School: Best Practice and their Applicability to Urban Context. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2026; 13(01):31-35.
Ahtisahm, Parveen Kumar. Safe Routes to School: Best Practice and their Applicability to Urban Context. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2026; 13(01):31-35. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ttea/article=2026/view=234437
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Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 01 |
| Received | 19/01/2026 |
| Accepted | 04/02/2026 |
| Published | 09/02/2026 |
| Publication Time | 21 Days |
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