Engagement is an essential component of a successful Safe Routes to School program. Whether it’s engagement of parents in the Safe Routes to School program by joining their school’s Safe Routes to School team, advocating for safe streets and engineering improvements to their local government or the civic engagement of students in various activities and advocacy efforts around Safe Routes to School, engagement is critical for building commitment and sustainability.
In the Be Active Safe Routes program, another key component of engagement is creating a system of community outreach that includes reporting activities and successes to the rest of the community — including promoting local events and making people aware of success stories. Success can’t thrive in a vacuum — a strong Safe Routes to School program depends on the visible and continued support of all local community leaders.