Published August 26 2025
Plus reminders of traffic safety tips as school resumes
The City of Bellevue has launched a new program – Safe Routes to School – to make it safer and easier for students to walk, bike and roll to school. Part of a nationwide initiative, the program at Bellevue will fund improvements to streets near schools, expanded traffic safety education and community events.
The City Council dedicated funding in the 2025-26 budget toward school-specific traffic safety and engagement, contributing to the active transportation and environmental sustainability policies of the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
This new program comes just as schools are set to resume in Bellevue, with Bellevue School District classes beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2. Lake Washington School District also resumes Sept. 2; Renton School District starts Aug. 27, and Issaquah School District starts Aug. 28.
The Safe Routes to School program’s vision is for every child and family in Bellevue to be able to enjoy safe, convenient and sustainable transportation for their daily commute to school. It aims to improve the experience of traveling to and from school for all students in Bellevue through innovative programming, improved infrastructure and community collaboration, and by addressing safety concerns and fostering safe and active transportation habits. To learn more about the program, visit Safe Routes to School.
To help ensure children can travel safely to and from school, please follow all traffic laws and best practices. Make sure you know when to stop for school buses when their lights are flashing. If you are dropping off or picking up a child from school, follow parking laws and consider turning off your engine to reduce noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
If you are commuting, consider alternative routes around schools to avoid traffic congestion during arrival and dismissal time. Our Tips for Safe Cycling flyer has information to follow when biking. More information on staying safe near schools, no matter how you’re travelling, is available at School Traffic Safety.