School Travel Planning - Green Communities Canada

School Travel Planning

Our Proven Approach

Since 2015, Green Communities Canada has delivered its School Travel Planning program to approximately 175 schools across Ontario. School Travel Planning aims to reduce traffic-related safety risks around schools and encourage more students to use sustainable modes of transportation for their school journeys. 

The Challenge

Communities across Canada are facing a challenge: more children are being driven to and from school, while fewer are using active modes of transportation like walking, biking, rollerblading, wheeling, and scootering. Students are missing out on the mental and physical health benefits of active school travel, and schools are seeing increases in traffic congestion, safety risks, and localized air pollution.

School Travel Planning (STP) helps reduce traffic safety risks and encourage more students to use active modes of travel to and from school. 

Benefits of Active School Travel

  • Reduced air pollution and urban noise.
  • Improved sense of community.
  • More productive use of valuable municipal space.
  • Improved cardiovascular health for children.
  • Improved cognitive performance for children.
  • Increased positive emotions and feelings of well-being for children.
  • Improved autonomy, independence, and sense of place for children.

How does School Travel Planning work? 

The School Travel Planning (STP) process is led by a School Travel Planner who collaborates with participating schools to form an STP Committee, composed of key members of the school community, municipal staff, elected officials, and school board representatives.

Over the two-year program, the STP Committee works together to assess and document current travel conditions and develop and implement an Action Plan. The Action Plan incorporates measures from our “7 Es Framework”: Education, Evaluation, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement (Optional), Equity and Engagement.

School Travel Planning in Action

Check out STP in action at communities across Ontario. 

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Timeline of School Travel Planning 

Green Communities Canada has been a leader in School Travel Planning for decades.

1990s

Active School Travel

Green Communities Canada begins promotion of active school travel in Canada.

Four school children with backpacks on leaving their school building with smiling faces
2000s

Development of School Travel Planning

Green Communities Canada researched and developed a School Travel Planning framework for Canadian communities in the early 2000s. This framework was tested through a national pilot funded by the Coalition Linking Action and Science for Prevention (CLASP).

Kids walking through grass
2010-12

Framework Implemented across Canada

School Travel Planning framework implemented in 120 schools across all provinces and territories of Canada.

2015-2023

School Travel Planning begins in Toronto

Since 2015, Green Communities Canada has delivered the School Travel Planning program to approximately 175 schools across the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Kids playing on pavement covered in sidewalk chalk reaching for bubbles, drawing on the pavement or interacting with each other with smiles on their faces
2023-24

Expansion in Toronto

In the 2023-24 school year, the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board expanded their engagement with School Travel Planning to reach an additional 45 schools.

Children attending a bicycle rodeo event. From coast to coast, people of all ages are embracing cycling as a safe, accessible, transportation option for school trips. Bike to School Week 2025 (B2SW) takes place from June 2 - 6 in Toronto and Vancouver, with some different dates for other areas in Canada.
2024-2026

More growth in Toronto

Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board plan to further expand School Travel Planning to engage yet another 60 schools across both school board.

Connect with School Travel Planning

If you’re part of a school community interested in promoting active travel among students, we want to help you!

Sign up for our email list for updates on the latest in School Travel Planning, including information and resources to get you started with seasonal events.

Sustainable Mobility News

The latest updates in School Travel Planning & more

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School Travel Planning Resources

There are many ways that you can take action to boost sustainable travel at your school. Green Communities Canada hosts a searchable catalogue of inspirational ideas and how-to resources that will help you get started on School Travel Planning and much, much more.

Sustainable Mobility
Publication

Overview of the Impact of School Bus Electrification on Workers in Small Transport Companies

Industry Partners | Policy Makers
Sustainable Mobility
Tools

Strategies for Engaging Parents in Active School Travel

Citizens | Members | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities | Schools
Sustainable Mobility

Graphic Assets for Inspiring Active Journeys to School

Citizens | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities | Schools
Sustainable Mobility

Sample Messaging for Inspiring Active Journeys to School

Citizens | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities | Schools
Sustainable Mobility

Cycling Skills: Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling

Citizens | Municipalities | Non Profits | Policy Makers | Residents
Sustainable Mobility

Wheels in Harmony: Sharing the Road Safely

Citizens | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities
Sustainable Mobility
Tools

Activity Sheets for a Great School Day

Citizens | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities | Schools
Sustainable Mobility
Tools

Inspiring Active Journeys to School Toolkit

Citizens | Members | Non Profits | Residents | School Communities | Schools
Sustainable Mobility
Publication

Technical Briefing: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Electric School Buses

Policy Makers
Sustainable Mobility
Video | Webinar

The Benefits and Challenges of Electrifying New Brunswick’s School Bus Fleet

Policy Makers
View more resources

Partners and Funders

  • Government of Ontario
  • Toronto District School Board
  • Toronto Catholic District School Board
  • City of Toronto