Students boarding a 22 Fillmore bus.
We know families are gearing up for the start of school next week, and we’re here to help.
We promote “Four Fun Ways” to get to class through our Safe Routes to Schools program. They are:
- Walking
- Biking
- Carpooling
- Taking Muni or the yellow school bus
Walking
Students cross Broadway towards Jean Parker Elementary.
Walking to school isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s a chance to connect with your kids and let them hang out with friends. Stepping outside together can transform your daily commute into something joyful.
Walking can also build healthy exercise habits and improve students’ focus once they reach school.
Here are some tips for walking to school:
- Use sidewalks or walking paths wherever possible. Be careful when you have to use the street or go around obstructions.
- Minimize crossing in the middle of the block. The safest place to cross streets is at marked crosswalks.
- Look both ways and stay alert. Check for moving cars, bikes and scooters when crossing driveways, bike lanes and intersections.
- Join or lead a walking train! If you have neighbors who also walk to school, consider setting up a recurring group walk. Reach out to SafeRoutes@sfmta.com for more tips or to request a walking school bus toolkit with all the supplies you need to start one at your own school.
To learn about all the things we’re doing to make walking an easier option, check out our San Francisco is Made for Walking page.
Taking Muni and the yellow school bus
Mission High School Students boarding a J Church train after school.
SFUSD students are already transit-riding superstars! According to our most recent Travel Tally, over a quarter of all students take public transit or the yellow school bus to and from school. High schoolers lead the way, with 55% of them reporting that they take transit regularly.
Not sure which routes run to your school? Use a trip planner or SFMTA Muni Routes to City Schools webpage.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re ready to join the transit train (or bus!):
- Kids and teens ride for free! - Thanks to Free Muni for All Youth, young people 18 and under ride for free – no application or special passes needed. Fares are also free for students enrolled in the SFUSD’s English Learner and Special Education Services programs through the age of 22. Adults and caregivers, check out our Fares page for information and to apply for discount fares.
- Plan your route – Use the MuniMobile app or Muni’s online trip planner to check schedules and plan a trip.
- Be respectful – Offer seats to those who need them. Keep music low (headphones, please!). Wait for people to exit before getting on the bus. If you’re on a crowded bus, take off your backpack and keep it by your feet to make room for others.
- Strap your bike onto a Muni bus to keep rolling – Don't live close to a bus stop that gets you to school? Bike there! All Muni buses come equipped with a bike rack.
Biking
McCoppin Elementary students gearing up for their group ride to school from Golden Gate Park during 2025 Bike and Roll to School Week.
Want to join the hundreds of other families that are biking to school? Here are our tips to get started:
- Plan ahead. Check out our Bike Network Map to see where bikeways can get you to school.
- Always wear a helmet. Not only does it keep you safe, it’s the law for riders under 18.
- Be as visible as possible. Wear bright clothing and install reflectors and lights on your bike. Heads up - front and rear lights are legally required for biking at night!
- Ride in bike lanes or along bike routes where present. Bikers and rollers under 13 can ride on the sidewalk.
- Start a bike train! Want to get a group of students and families biking at your school? Consider leading or joining a recurring group ride to get multiple families to school together. Check out our “How-To Guide: Start a Bike Train” webpage for more information and reach out to SafeRoutes@sfmta.com to get help setting one up.
Did you know that Safe Routes to School participants biked over 2,491 miles during the 2023-24 school year? That’s the same as biking around San Francisco more than 80 times!
Carpooling
Drop-off and pick-ups can be a hectic time! Crossing guards help make sure families can get to and from school safely.
If you drop off and pick up your kids every day, there are thousands of other parents out there just like you.
Our most recent travel tally reports that 3.9% of students carpool to and from school. If those families did so just once a week, carpooling collectively would have saved SFUSD parents 74,530 car trips last year. Pairing up with just one other family would mean half as many trips to school. Imagine what else you could do with all that extra time!
Here are some helpful tips for carpooling to school:
- Find a carpool buddy - Look for buddies doing the same afterschool activities as your child to make scheduling even easier. Set up playdates or invite families to dinner to help students and caregivers get to know each other.
- Talk about safety - Make sure all drivers in your carpool are on the same page when it comes to abiding by traffic laws and safety requirements, including seat belts, booster seats, cellphone usage, smoking, etc.
- Decide on a schedule – Make an agreement on regular carpool days and times.
- Maintain regular communication - Consider setting up a parent group chat. Give as much notice as possible if there are any changes that might affect the carpool.
- Make it fun – Bring backseat toys or games or make occasional stops for a treat on the way home from school.
Getting you to school year-round
Students at Charles Drew Elementary get excited to start their walking school bus to campus during Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
Safe Routes to School offers programming all year long to help students and caregivers walk, roll, carpool, and take transit to school safely. Learn more about the program’s accomplishments in our latest annual report. Visit the Safe Routes to School website to learn more about our activities and how you can get your school involved.
Stay tuned for more details and how you can organize an event at your school for our first citywide event of the school year. That will be Walk and Roll to School Week, happening Oct. 6-10, 2025.
Want to learn about all the programming Safe Routes to School has to offer? Sign up for our newsletter or get in touch with us at SafeRoutes@sfmta.com.