Safe Routes to School update: county program continues education, ebike training and outreach

Jessica Grant and Julia Garcia presented an update on the Safe Routes to School program and the countywide partnership managed by Move Santa Barbara County. The program focuses on four components — education, engagement, encouragement and evaluation — and uses Measure A funding plus an Office of Traffic Safety grant for junior-high and high-school ebike education.

Garcia summarized recent activities (walk-and-roll events, bike-skill classes, helmet distribution and in-school training) and said Move will continue bilingual outreach and school-based coordination, including distribution of brochures and ParentSquare messaging to parents. Staff noted discussions with the school district about making Safe Routes education more broadly required and emphasized that Move’s hands-on education is complementary to in-school initiatives. The committee praised the program and asked about private-school participation and enforcement for tampered ebikes; staff said private schools can receive programming and California law defines ebike classifications when a device has been tampered with.