Fort Collins, Colorado, earns 2026 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award
Success of city’s established safety programs shows with high rates of students walking and biking
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.; FORT COLLINS, Co. [April 2, 2026] – The National Center for Safe Routes to School is pleased to honor Fort Collins, Co., with the 2026 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award. Increased rates of students walking and biking to school in the city are the results of years of multifaceted efforts to improve and maintain school routes and educate people walking, biking, and driving.
“What made Fort Collins stand out is not only the breadth of its accomplishments in support of safe youth walking and biking, but the longevity of its commitment,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School, UNC Highway Safety Research Center. “For years, the city has advanced ambitious plans, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and continually innovated to support youth mobility.”
The award committee was particularly impressed by the city’s commitment to walking and biking infrastructure investments, partnerships, and multigenerational educational strategies. Leaders in Fort Collins employed strategic planning, community engagement, adaptation, and innovation to achieve their walking and biking successes.
“We are thrilled to receive this award, which highlights the City’s long-standing commitment to helping young people travel safely and independently in our community,” City of Fort Collins Mayor Emily Francis said. “Through strong collaboration across City teams and programs like Safe Routes to School and designing our streets and trails to be safe for people of all ages, we’re advancing City Council’s priority to pursue Vision Zero.”
The Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award, now in its ninth year, recognizes communities that are taking bold steps to prioritize safety for child pedestrians and bicyclists. The award aims to highlight noteworthy practices and inspire other communities to take action. Past recipients include Pueblo of Jemez, N.M.; Minneapolis; Arlington, Va.; Los Angeles; New York City; Fremont, Calif.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Seattle. The Milwaukee Safe Routes to School Program received an innovation award during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is presented by the Vision Zero for Youth initiative, led by the National Center for Safe Routes to School with support from General Motors and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. An award ceremony will take place this spring.
The U.S. Award Committee includes representatives from road safety organizations and government agencies including the Atlanta Department of Transportation, Cherokee Nation Public Health, Composing Youth Mobility, COMTO, Federal Highway Administration, National Center for Safe Routes to School, Institute of Transportation Engineers, NACTO, New York City Department of Transportation, Toole Design, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the Safe Routes Partnership. Learn more at www.visionzeroforyouth.org/awards.
About Vision Zero for Youth
Launched by the National Center for Safe Routes to School in 2016, the Vision Zero for Youth initiative encourages communities to focus on safety improvements and efforts to slow traffic speeds where children and youth travel. Starting with youth can be the spark that creates community support for a broader Vision Zero program to eliminate all traffic fatalities. The initiative includes resources, ideas for taking action, and national and international recognition programs. Support for the initiative is provided by the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. For more information about Vision Zero for Youth, visit visionzeroforyouth.org.
About the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Established in 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School helps communities change their cultures around safe and active travel. Its role includes leading the Vision Zero for Youth Initiative, national coordination and technical assistance for National Walk & Roll to School Day and National Bike & Roll to School Day, and providing tools, training, research, and evaluation for safe walking and bicycling for children and youth. The National Center for Safe Routes to School served as the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program for eleven years. It is located at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, hsrc.unc.edu.