Evidence-Based Resource Summary

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends interventions to increase active travel to school based on evidence that they increase walking among students and reduce risks for traffic-related injury. Active travel to school interventions make it easier for children and adolescents to commute to school actively (e.g., walking or biking). They do this by working to improve the physical or social safety of common routes to school or by promoting safe pedestrian behaviors. In the United States, the most commonly used active travel to school intervention is Safe Routes to School. Active travel to school interventions must include one or more of the following: engineering, education, encouragement, and enforcement. Interventions may also include evaluation and equity. Communities typically select or modify intervention components to address specific barriers to active travel. Programs are often combined with other school- and community-based interventions to increase opportunities for physical activity.