Welcome to Active & Safe Routes to School
Active & Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) is community partners from several organizations throughout the Counties of Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and the cities of London and St. Thomas working together to promote and sustain ASRTS programs that encourage children and families to choose active transportation.
Steering committee
School travel planning
Resources
Current Initiatives
School Anti-Idling Program
School anti-idling signs encourage drivers to turn off their engines while waiting near school zones to reduce air pollution and improve student health. These signs are installed in visible areas such as pickup/drop-off zones, parking lots, and nearby streets where idling commonly occurs. By raising awareness and promoting behaviour change, anti-idling signs help create cleaner, healthier environments around schools.
May 2026 Update:
Applications for this program are closed and delivery of the signs to the 16 participating schools has now happened. We encourage any interested schools to explore our Anti-Idling Toolkit (linked below) and reach out to ASRTS for support.
Cycle Safe Program
The Cycle Safe Program is designed to help grades 5-8 students build the skills and confidence needed to bike to and from school safely. Through cycling education, hands-on learning activities, and safety-focused instruction, students learn road rules, safe riding behaviours, signalling, route planning, and more. The program supports active school travel by reducing barriers and promoting cycling as a healthy and environmentally responsible transportation option.
Earlier in 2026, interested TVDSB & LDCSB elementary schools applied to participate in the Cycle Safe Program. Thanks to an MTO grant this spring, ten schools were approved to participate. These schools are receiving safety kits that include secure locks, helmets, bells, lights, and water bottles to support safe riding practices. There is also an education and awareness toolkit that any school can utilize, that includes school/community awareness activities and curriculum-connected lesson plans, presentations, and activities for the classroom. Some of the participating schools in 2026 will also receive a bike rack to support their involvement in the Cycle Safe Program.
Check out the 5 videos released at the Cycle Safe Video Launch Party at London Performing Arts Academy on Tuesday, May 5.
- Why Cycle? | A Cycle Safe Video
- Helmet Safety | A Cycle Safe Video
- Lock It Up | A Cycle Safe Video
- Rules of the Road | A Cycle Safe Video
- Fix a Flat | A Cycle Safe Video
Partners
