Safe Routes to School
What the Active Transportation Education Requirement states
This law requires all public-school students to receive age-appropriate education related to safe walking and bicycling during the first few weeks of class each year. This law went into effect August 2023 after legislation was passed to have MnDOT administer this traffic safety education.
Key points:
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Grades K-3: Learn pedestrian safety, including how to cross the road.
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Grades 4-8: Learn both pedestrian and bicycle safety, including traffic laws, helmet use, bike safety features, and safe biking techniques.
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Timeline: This education should be provided by the end of the third week of school in most cases.
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Non-Public Schools: Can choose to provide this education, but it's not required.
Resources for implementation
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Is my school/district required to provide this training to students?
Yes. The State of Minnesota requires Active Transportation Education in all public schools.
How should I track students who have or have not completed the Active Transportation Education requirement?
There is no statewide reporting process to allow MnDOT to create a suite of education materials for schools to use and schools to develop a process for this education during the first three years of this law. A reporting system will roll out next fall.
Does the state provide resources or funding to implement this training?
Training materials—including lesson plan ideas, education videos, and handouts—are provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. We are developing additional resources. These will be available for the 2025-26 school year. Direct or formula funding is not currently provided by the State of Minnesota to implement Walk and Bike Safety Education.
What’s the difference between Walk and Bike Safety Education and Walk! Bike! Fun!?
Walking and biking safety education is a new requirement in Minnesota schools. It is meant to introduce and reinforce the skills required for youth to navigate their communities on foot or on bike – a lifelong skill. There is flexibility in how the education can be presented to students. It will likely take no more than 30 minutes of the school day. The requirement can be met by presenting information in a general classroom or even a school assembly format.
Many schools across the state have incorporated Walk! Bike! Fun! into their physical education curricula or after-school programming. Walk! Bike! Fun! is a robust program for teaching pedestrian and bicycle safety skills to youth that meets Minnesota’s education standards. Schools that teach Walk! Bike! Fun! are already meeting the new Active Transportation Safety Education requirement with one important caveat: all students must receive Active Transportation Safety Education at the beginning of the school year. Teaching Walk! Bike! Fun! may be sufficient for your school if it can be taught to the student body at the beginning of the school year, but if not, it should be supplemented with a shorter unit that can meet the state requirements.
Who to contact for help
If you have questions or need assistance, join MnDOT’s Safe Routes to Schools office hours:
Office Hours Schedule:
- 📅 First Monday of the Month at 3 p.m.
- 📅 Third Thursday of the Month at 8:30 a.m.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: http://www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Visit: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes
Contact: saferoutes.dot@state.mn.us
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