Building Safer Routes, Stronger Communities, and Youth Voices: VOCART Launches 2026 Safe Routes to School Initiative

This week marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for VOCART and the communities we serve across Northwest Indiana.

ID: SRTS Logo, 4 kids in silhouette enroute to school. The first rides a bike, the second is walking with a friend who uses a wheelchair and the third is pushing a

Following our selection as a 2026 Safe Routes to School grantee, we have officially launched a three-part implementation strategy designed to make walking, biking, and rolling safer while creating opportunities for youth engagement, community connection, and creative expression.

ID: Middle schoolers at River Forest located in New Chicago, Indiana, discuss the walk/rollability audit of their school.

Supported through the Safe Routes to School program in partnership with Health by Design, the initiative expands VOCART's long-standing commitment to active transportation, youth development, and community storytelling.

The grant will support the expansion of Take Bike the Streets programming while introducing new opportunities for students, families, schools, and neighborhoods to engage in transportation safety, bicycle education, and digital media projects that amplify local voices.

ID: Girl in a red shirt smiles with the bike she just learned to fix at The Ken Parr Build a Bike.

For VOCART, this investment represents more than a transportation initiative, it is an opportunity to build confidence, creativity, and community through experiences that empower young people and strengthen neighborhoods.

A Threefold Strategy for Community Impact

The 2026 Safe Routes to School initiative centers around three interconnected program areas designed to reach students and families both inside and outside the classroom.

ID: People of all ages design a safer route for their local school.

Build a Bike & Bicycle Safety Workshops

The cornerstone of the initiative is the return of the Ken Parr Build a Bike Program, now entering its 11th season.

Through a series of community workshops, participants learn hands-on bicycle maintenance skills while helping refurbish donated bicycles that are then distributed to children, families, and community members. The program not only increases access to safe transportation but also teaches practical skills, encourages physical activity, and promotes independence.

The season officially kicked off on National Trails Day with a successful workshop that welcomed 18 participants ranging in age from 3 to 75. During the event, volunteers serviced and distributed 11 donated bicycles, repaired four additional bikes, and even provided a stroller to a local family in need.

As part of the Safe Routes to School initiative, these workshops now incorporate expanded bicycle safety education, helping riders of all ages develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate their communities safely.

Community Outreach Pop-Ups

Building on the success of community engagement efforts throughout Northwest Indiana, VOCART will host a series of outreach pop-ups designed to meet residents where they are.

ID: Large group gathers at the Lake Effekt Pop Up.

These activations bring transportation education, bicycle resources, safety information, and community conversations directly into neighborhoods, festivals, markets, and public spaces. By creating informal and accessible opportunities for engagement, VOCART aims to connect with families who may not participate in traditional meetings or workshops.

ID: Two women teach a group of kids to fix bikes.)

The pop-ups will also serve as opportunities to share information about active transportation, recruit volunteers, collect community feedback, and distribute resources that support safe walking, biking, and rolling throughout the region.

ID: Mom shows daughter how to fix a bike chain.

School-Based Engagement and Campus Events

The third pillar of the initiative focuses on direct engagement with schools through educational programming, bicycle safety activities, campus audits, and student-led planning exercises.

This work is already underway.

ID: Students draw a rough mockup some SRTS improvements they would suggest to their admin.

Earlier this week, students at River Forest Middle School participated in VOCART's first Safe Routes to School Campus Audit Workshop. Despite temperatures approaching 100 degrees, students enthusiastically evaluated conditions around their school, identified safety challenges, and developed recommendations to improve accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users.

ID: Students walk the perimeter of their school taking notes on infrastructure and safety.

The workshop demonstrated the value of empowering young people to become active participants in shaping their own environments. Their observations and recommendations will contribute to future conversations about transportation safety and infrastructure improvements within their community.

ID: Students stand before their SRTS plan.

Additional school-based activities planned throughout the year will combine transportation education with digital storytelling opportunities that encourage students to document and share their experiences navigating their neighborhoods.

Seeking Additional School Partners

The response to the Safe Routes to School initiative has been overwhelmingly positive.

With multiple workshops, community events, and school engagements already scheduled, VOCART's 2026 calendar is quickly filling up. However, there are still opportunities for a limited number of schools to participate in programming this fall.

Schools interested in hosting bicycle safety workshops, campus audits, student engagement activitiesare encouraged to connect with VOCART soon as remaining openings are expected to fill quickly. (Contact vocartjessie@gmail.com for more details.)

Looking Ahead

The launch of the Safe Routes to School initiative represents an important milestone for VOCART, but it is also part of a larger vision.

ID: Mom shows son how to sit on a bike.

Through bicycles, education, community engagement, and storytelling, the organization continues to create pathways for young people to build confidence, develop skills, and strengthen connections to their communities.

As the 11th season of the Ken Parr Build a Bike Program gets underway and new partnerships continue to emerge, one thing is clear: the future of Safe Routes to School in Northwest Indiana is already taking shape.

ID: Boys use sidewalk chalk to design their route to school.

And it starts with giving young people the tools, opportunities, and support they need to safely explore the communities they call home.

Interested schools, volunteers, and community partners are encouraged to reach out and join VOCART as this exciting new chapter unfolds.

ID: You man dressed all in black stands with the BMX he fixed at Build a Bike.