Most high school students get to school by car. At Youth en Route, they know this from over 2,500 student travel surveys conducted at 10 schools. The data highlights what needs to change to influence behaviour. Shifting these short trips to active travel could make significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their mission is to make active travel the preferred mode of transportation for youth, supported by a data-driven strategy and a proven track record of maximizing funding impact.

Youth en Route has seen incredible success at its 10 project schools. Six high schools now have bike fleets, which are being used in various classes, from physical education to English language programs. Each school has integrated the bikes uniquely to meet their community’s needs. At Forest Lawn High School, the bikes are available for sign-out and were used daily by multiple teachers between May and June. At James Fowler High School, PE 20-30 students completed a three-week cycling unit using the fleet. At McNally High School, the bikes are part of a student bike-share program.

Funding from the Calgary Innovation Fund (CIF) enabled the purchase of bike repair tools, spare parts, professional development, and teaching resources that will benefit youth for years to come.

Data from 13 schools and over 2,500 students provide insights to guide future work. The findings challenge common assumptions: 40% of students don’t own bikes and 48% lack the skills or confidence to cycle in Calgary. This strategy of providing bikes in schools, where students can learn cycling skills in a safe, supportive environment, is key to achieving their goal of increasing active travel among youth.

On the infrastructure front, bike storage was updated at seven schools, with Pearson’s bike racks completed last year. They also produced 10 detailed infrastructure reports to spark conversations about safer routes to schools.

This project has successfully implemented programs at 10 schools. However, they are now facing challenges in securing long-term funding. Four additional schools have requested bike fleets, and their current schools want continued support for cycling education. Despite their efforts, funding remains uncertain. The City of Calgary won’t tender its $75,000 Active and Safe Routes to School contract, and applications to the Calgary Foundation were unsuccessful. They are still waiting to hear from the Flames Foundation and have applied for other grants, but they aren’t sustainable. While they have Jumpstart funding for school programs, it doesn’t cover equipment, transportation, surveys, or other essential activities.

Despite these challenges, they are committed to continuing their work, even with volunteer hours if necessary. They’ve accomplished too much to stop now.

Looking ahead, they are planning a large Bike to School Week in September and supporting a youth-led Active Transportation Summit. They’ve strengthened partnerships with the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, exploring opportunities for work-integrated learning for students.

They are also seeking funding to develop an app that would reward students for choosing active transportation modes. Incentives like these can further encourage youth to embrace active travel.