Compared to previous generations, fewer students are walking and cycling to school, and more are being driven. This change is associated with rising environmental, health and safety concerns. To respond to this trend, in 2017/18 the TDSB launched a new program to provide schools with more traffic safety support. This unique program, delivered in partnership with Green Communities Canada, supplies a dedicated facilitator to 15 schools annually for the purpose of identifying travel issues and developing workable solutions in collaboration with the school community, as well as Board and City of Toronto staff.

At the same time, through their Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services has committed to the creation of 80 “School Safety Zones” per year. These safety zones will include features to increase visibility of school zones with the goal of calming traffic.

The Bike to School Project is aimed at promoting cycling at TDSB secondary schools and is delivered through a partnership with Culturelink Settlement and Community Services.

Bike to School Week is a celebration of active transportation and biking and builds on the success of Bike Month. Schools participate in Bike to School Week by encouraging their students to walk and roll to school, and by holding events both inside and outside the classroom to promote the benefits of active transportation and biking.

This year, Bike to School Week is happening May 27th – May 31st, 2019.

Schools can apply to have a skills-based cycling education program presented at their school, free of charge in the spring of 2019. Visit our Cycling Supports page for more details.

Smart Commute helps local employers and commuters explore different commute choices like carpooling, cycling and transit in an effort to ease gridlock, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while making your commute less expensive and more enjoyable. All TDSB staff are invited to take advantage of Smart Commute’s online tool, designed to assist with planning your commute. Use the tool to explore and compare your travel options, including cycling, walking, public transit and carpooling and to calculate calories burned, CO2 emissions, and travel costs.

Guide to Ride
Free cycling-focused lesson plans for grades 4 – 6, provided by Physical and Health Education Canada

Move Think Learn – Cycling in Focus
Geared towards grades 4 – 9, this Physical and Health Education Canada resource provides lesson plans that demonstrate how cycling strategy, tactics and skills can be transferred to other sports

Active & Sustainable School Travel Lesson Plans
Geared towards grades 1, 5 and 9 to help teachers engage students about the environment, health and social benefits of making active and sustainable travel choices.

Cycle Toronto’s Cyclist Handbook
A resource for Toronto cyclists, identifying the parts of a bicycle, cycling safety tips and rules of the road. Available in 17 languages.

CAA’s Bike Safety
This website provides a wealth of resources on bike safety, including selecting appropriate bike equipment, riding skills and tips and bike maintenance and care.

Ministry of Transportation’s Young Cyclists Guide
A cycling guidebook, designed for youth, providing information on bicycle equipment, riding tips and rules of the road.

Peel Region’s Bike Rodeo Community Kit
A “how-to” guide for establishing a Bike Rodeo in your community.

The Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools is a research-based resource designed to assist residents in requesting street improvements within the City of Toronto