Encouraging sustainable transportation for students is a significant way schools can reduce their environmental impact while promoting healthier and more equitable commuting options. This START metric focuses on working toward the goal of the majority, if not all, of the student body using sustainable modes of transportation as their primary means of commuting. Options include walking, biking, carpooling, public transportation, school shuttles or buses, and hybrid or electric vehicles.
Transportation accounts for 27% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (EPA), and transitioning to sustainable student commutes can dramatically decrease a school’s carbon footprint. Beyond environmental benefits, sustainable transportation also fosters physical activity, reduces traffic congestion, and builds community connections. By prioritizing these initiatives, schools can lead by example in addressing climate challenges while enhancing students' daily experiences.
Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Student Transportation
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Encourage Walking and Biking
Develop safe walking and biking routes to school, including crosswalks, bike lanes, and sidewalks.
Provide bike racks, shelters, or secure storage facilities to support student cyclists.
Host events like “Walk to School Day” or “Bike to School Day” to raise awareness.
Establish Carpooling or Vanpooling Programs
Create a carpool matching system for families living in the same area.
Incentivize carpooling through preferred drop-off spots or reduced parking fees.
Promote Public Transportation Use
Partner with local transit authorities to offer discounted or free passes for students.
Provide route information and guidance for students and families unfamiliar with public transit.
Optimize School Bus Systems
Expand bus routes to accommodate more students, particularly in underserved areas.
Transition to hybrid or electric school buses to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
Offer School Shuttles
Provide shuttles for students who live further away or in areas without public transportation access.
Use fuel-efficient or electric shuttles to further reduce environmental impact.
Incorporate Sustainable Transportation into Curriculum
Teach students about the environmental and social benefits of sustainable transportation.
Use projects to explore real-world solutions, such as designing better transit systems or mapping walking routes.
Create Safe Drop-Off Zones
Redesign drop-off and pick-up areas to reduce idling and encourage shared rides.
Prioritize pedestrian safety by separating walking paths from vehicle traffic.
Set Participation Goals
Aim for a measurable increase in students using sustainable transportation methods each year.
Track and report progress to celebrate milestones and encourage continued participation.
Engage Families
Educate parents about the benefits of sustainable commuting through newsletters or workshops.
Offer resources, such as carpooling apps or guides to safe biking, to make sustainable options more accessible.
Leverage Technology
Use apps or platforms to monitor transportation patterns and identify areas for improvement.
Provide real-time updates for bus schedules and routes to improve reliability.
Collaborate with Local Governments and Organizations
Partner with city planners, transportation departments, and non-profits to improve local infrastructure.
Advocate for additional bike lanes, crosswalks, and transit options near the school.
Incentivize Sustainable Choices
Recognize students who regularly use sustainable transportation with rewards or certificates.
Offer competitions or challenges to encourage participation, such as “Green Commute Month.”
Monitor and Improve Accessibility
Ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, have access to sustainable transportation options.
Adapt routes, vehicles, or systems as needed to accommodate diverse needs.
Celebrate Sustainable Transportation Success
Host events or assemblies to acknowledge progress and share the impact of sustainable commuting on emissions and health.
Use storytelling or testimonials to inspire more families to participate.
‘How To’ Guides
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Bike to School Week Guide
From Bikehub, tips to run your own Bike Week, including planning considerations, student activities, safety tips and resources, and promotional resources.
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Starting and Running a Safe Routes to School Program
Starting a Safe Routes to School program in your community is an enormous opportunity to improve safety for students and people walking and biking, increase opportunities for people to be physically active, make it easier for kids to get to and from school, and make streets safer for everyone, regardless of how they get around.
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Decarbonization Strategy: Electric School Buses
Currently, 32% of school districts are in states that have adopted the Advanced Clean Transport (ACT) rule, established a zero-emissions school bus target, or implemented a zero-emissions school bus mandate.
Additional Resources
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Success Stories: Programs That Increase Walking and Bicycling
From Safe Routes, an overview of 8 programs to increase walking and bicycling rates, methods to measure progress, and links to program evaluation resources.
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Re-envisioning School Streets
From Safe Routes, case studies, examples of street modifications to improve safety and access around schools, and considerations for changes in different settings.
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Bike Safety Curriculum
Improve safety and confidence for cycling through program tips links to
educational resources from Safe Routes to School. -
Bike to School Week Guide
From Bikehub, in-class safety instruction activities, links to curriculum resources and sustainability activities , bike-skills building activities and fun activity ideas.
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Footprints: Humans and Animals Walking
From Living Streets, for ages 5-7 (KS1), a curriculum-linked, 60-minute lesson plan looking at ‘Footprints – humans and animals walking’.
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EPA Electric School Bus Activity Book (Elementary)
An educational activity book that allows elementary school children to explore topics related to the electric school buses, public health, and climate change through coloring, games, riddles, and storytelling.
Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.