The NJ Safe Routes Academy, sponsored by the NJ Department of Transportation, focuses on sessions that allow participants to make their communities more walk- and bike-friendly for all users of all abilities. This year’s Academy will held in-person during the NJ Bike & Walk Summit on Saturday, March 7th, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Princeton — Conference Center.
The Safe Routes Academy is designed for parents, teachers, students, municipal leaders, local volunteers, and anyone else interested in improving conditions for walking and bicycling. Learn about the best practices and resources that you can use to increase safety and accessibility in your community.
Register Here
Session 1: Start with the School Zone
Do you want to make your community a safer place for walking and bicycling? Start with the School Zone! Traffic-related crashes remain a leading cause of death among children in the United States, making school zone safety an urgent priority. This session explores critical components of school zone safety: best practices for planning, infrastructure improvements, crossing guard training and safety, and partners and resources that can help you along the way to lasting change. Throughout this interactive session, presenters will work with attendees to share lessons learned, practical strategies, and resources for school zone improvements that protect crossing guards, students, and other vulnerable populations. Attendees will leave with recommendations for creating safer, more effective school zones through a combination of physical improvements and human-centered strategies.
Session 2: Rethinking our Roads with Youth Leadership
Young people aren’t just the future of our transportation systems—they’re active pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders today. Their lived experiences offer essential insights for building safe and holistic active transportation networks. This session will explore effective and meaningful strategies for engaging youth as true partners in transportation planning. Panelists will discuss why empowering young people with the skills, tools, and platforms to share their perspectives is critical to shaping communities that work for everyone. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for authentic youth engagement—and hear directly from young people about what genuine involvement looks and feels like. Together, we can strengthen today’s active transportation systems while cultivating the next generation of leaders and advocates.
Who Should Attend
The NJ Safe Routes Academy sessions are for anyone interested in learning about and supporting efforts to make communities across New Jersey more walkable and bikeable. Examples include:
- State, county, and municipal planners, engineers, and public works staff
- Public health professionals
- School teachers and officials
- Policy-makers and elected officials
- Local bike, walk & Safe Routes to School champions
- Mobility, accessibility, and equity advocates
- Environmental and economic development professionals
- Anyone interested in designing for active transportation systems that protect the safety of all roadway users