The City of Vaughan is launching Active School Travel, a pilot program which promotes any form of human-powered travel, such as walking or wheeling (including the use of assistive mobility devices) cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding or riding the bus to get to and from school. This program is in collaboration with York Region, York Region Catholic District School Board, York Region District School Board, York Region Public Health and York Regional Police.  

Active School Travel is designed to:

• Enhance road safety and help manage vehicle congestion around school zones.
• Educate and raise awareness among the community about the benefits of active and sustainable travel.
• Improve air quality in school zones by reducing pollution and greenhouse gases made by vehicles.
• Improve students’ physical and mental health, social development and academic performance.
• Build lifelong habits of active and independent mobility.
• Raise awareness of road safety being a shared value and responsibility.
• Encourage students to reap the benefits of Active School Travel while having fun.

To support local schools in promoting safe and active transportation, the program will utilize a combination of tools to get the community involved. The Active School Travel pilot program is currently running in eight schools across the city:

1. Anne Frank Public School
2. Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School
3. Johnny Lombardi Public School
4. Lorna Jackson Public School
5. Pope Francis Catholic Elementary School
6. St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School
7. Viola Desmond Public School
8. Yorkhill Elementary School

Participating schools will receive Active School Travel banners that will be displayed outside the building. Mobile signage will also be placed at major intersections surrounding the schools to raise awareness. In addition, promotional items and swag will be provided to the schools, so students who participate in the program can be rewarded. Other engaging initiatives, such as ‘Walking Wednesday’s,’ ‘Winter Walk Days’ and involving key stakeholders like York Regional Police, will be used to get students involved and excited.

Alongside these activities, traffic-calming measures will also be implemented and improved to ensure safer school zones. These include, but are not limited to:

• installation of radar message boards
• installation of flexi posts
• installation wayfinding signage
• improvement or introduction of school zone pavement markings

Safe school zones and the well-being of citizens remains a top priority. The City continues to collaborate with stakeholders and leverage partnerships to raise awareness, share information and promote active and sustainable travel, as road safety is a shared value and responsibility.