Take Action

Children deserve safe places to walk and bike – starting with the trip to school. Vision Zero for Youth aids cities in getting from current realities to creating thriving, safer communities for everyone. Now is the ideal time to be sure that children’s safety is being addressed in Vision Zero plans and for communities to consider how improving safety for children and youth can build support that can result in safety for all. 

Featured resources

Nine Strategies Cities Use to Prioritize Safe, Active Travel for Children and Youth

Engaging Youth to Advance Safer Streets for All

The Benefits of Slowing Down Traffic — Starting Where Children Walk and Bike

Creating Safer Streets: Vision Zero for Youth Overview

Events as Tools for Change

Focusing on the Safety of Children can Propel Vision Zero Initiatives

Re-envisioning School Streets: Creating More Space for Children and Families

Safety-Based Prioritization for Youth Pedestrian Travel Planning: Applying Systemic Pedestrian Safety Analysis to Youth Travel

Youth Leadership in Vision Zero

 

For community members

Your support is a critical part of Vision Zero for Youth. Community members can help by supporting efforts to improve safety for youth and encouraging city leaders to make change in your community. Here are a few actions you can take:

 

For mayors, elected officials and staff

The actions listed here derive from cities that are taking a fresh look at how they are protecting people who walk, bike, drive and use transit. Start with actions that suit the issues your community is facing and consider using an event to announce your planned actions and discuss how they will benefit children, youth and ultimately all ages. Critical safety factors include reducing motorist speeds in areas where pedestrians are present, shortening the distance to cross the street, and constructing communities where the buildings, streets and transit system all work together for safer walking and bicycling.

  • Assess whether your city could strengthen how it implements these nine strategies cities use to prioritize safe, active travel for children and youth.
  • Extend Safe Routes to School benefits to additional schools.
  • Extend the safety benefits of Safe Routes to School to other places where youth walk or bike.
  • Take a walk with city and community partners to identify needed safety improvements. 
  • Tackle tough issues such as the need for speed reduction. Over the past 10 years, areas around schools have served as spaces to begin conversations about managing traffic speeds and raising awareness of the safety risks involved in speeding. Many highway safety initiatives also start with addressing children’s safety because focusing on children is widely supported.
  • Use the Mayors’ Statement on Safe Walking and Bicycling for Youth to show a commitment:
    • The ability of people to safely walk and bicycle is a vital part of what makes communities thrive. We recognize that by creating opportunities for children and youth to safely walk and bicycle, we can benefit people of all ages, abilities and resources. My community is committed to work to promote safe walking and bicycling and to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes among all road users. Now is the time to act. We know the benefits this would bring to the health and well-being of our children, our communities, and the nation are immeasurable.
  • Commit to working with others to create a Vision Zero plan for your city. View the Vision Zero plans developed by cities.
  • Commit to improving safety behaviors of all road users through education and enforcement.
  • Commit to infrastructure improvements. See a list of infrastructure improvements and issues they address.
  • Work with your transportation staff to apply for infrastructure funding. 
  • Include a line item in your next budget for school traffic safety improvements.

 


 

For more information

Vision Zero in the US

International

Resources