Communities creating safer streets starting where youth walk and bike

Around the world, communities are committing to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries, also called Vision Zero. A growing group of these cities is focused on improving safety in school zones and other places where children and youth walk and bicycle. In some places, youth are actively working with cities and other partners to effect this change.

Vision Zero for Youth values that starting with youth can be the catalyst to build community support for Vision Zero; that Vision Zero should include a focus on youth and that youth voices can play an important role in creating safer streets.

Apply for the 2025 VZY US Leadership Award

The award recognizes a community that has made exceptional progress in improving safety for youth walking and biking.

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Children deserve safe places to walk and bike—starting with the trip to school. The ability of people to safely walk and bicycle is a vital part of what makes communities thrive.

Read about why safe walking and biking are important for children’s safety and health and how Vision Zero for Youth can impact far beyond the trip to school.

Cities have identified an array of ways to prevent pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and promote walking. A growing number of cities are considering or currently implementing Vision Zero to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Many have used a broad variety of youth-targeted safety improvements either as a component of Vision Zero or to help build political will for larger safety initiatives.

Read about how to put action behind the commitment to Vision Zero for Youth and create change in your community.

Cities of all sizes can take steps toward creating safer places for children and youth to walk and bike. Some communities integrate youth-focused changes into large-scale a Vision Zero approach, while others identify smaller fixes they can accomplish that make large difference in their communities.

Read stories that show the range of possibilities for Vision Zero for Youth.

Launched by the National Center for Safe Routes to School in 2016, the Vision Zero for Youth initiative encourages communities and elected officials to focus 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, opportunities for city leaders to commit and national and international recognition programs. Support for the initiative is provided by the FIA Foundation, UNC Highway Safety Research Center, and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.

For ways community members can support their city leaders or even be the ones that gets things started, visit Take Action.