The Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) program is a joint project of UC Berkeley SafeTREC and California Walks (Cal Walks). Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The CPBST program works with local neighborhood residents and health, transportation and safety advocates to understand a community’s walking and biking safety concerns and advance their pedestrian and bicycle safety goals. We work to strengthen collaboration between all safety partners, discuss transportation safety information and local crash data, and collectively develop a community-driven safety action plan. Our team works with a local Planning Committee to customize the workshop to fit the unique needs of each community.
The program began in 2009 as the Community Pedestrian Safety Training (CPST) program, and was expanded in 2016 to incorporate strategies to improve bicycle safety and renamed the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) program.
Results
As of 2022, SafeTREC and Cal Walks have conducted 119 pedestrian and bicycle safety trainings throughout California. While our curriculum was developed for in-person workshops, it has been successfully adapted for virtual convenings as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. To learn more about how the CPBST program was adapted, watch this presentation with UC Berkeley SafeTREC Senior Program & Policy Analyst Katherine Chen, "Community Engagement: Pivoting active transportation community engagement plannig during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Explore our interactive map of the CPBST Program to view summary reports where available of each workshop proceeding, including ideas identified during the process and recommendations for pedestrian/bicycle safety projects, policies, and programs.
View a web accessible, text version of the CPBST Interactive Map.
The CPBST team reviews the program on a regular basis. Please see below for a list of recent follow-up surveys and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the CPBST:
- Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) Program Workshop Follow-Up Survey Highlights: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020
- Conducting Community Engagement with a Safe System Lens. Katherine L. Chen and Jill F. Cooper (2021)
- How effective are community pedestrian safety training workshops? Short-term findings from a program in California. Jesus M. Barajas, Kate M. Beck, Jill F. Cooper, Ana Lopez, Amanda Reynosa (2019)
- Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training Program Evaluation Report. Sarah Doggett, Kate M. Beck, Ana Lopez, Jill F. Cooper (2019)
About the CPBST
The CPBST works with local residents, schools, agencies, and other safety partners to build synergy and develop a tailored, community-driven action plan to improve walking and biking safety and strengthen collaboration. During the workshop, we will review local crash data and the community’s traffic safety experiences, educate participants on pedestrian and bicycle safety best practices, guide participants on a walking and biking safety assessment, and culminate in identifying actionable next steps. The CPBST is committed to equitable community outreach and engagement in active transportation planning. We prioritize working in communities that are at higher risk for road traffic injuries and addressing the safety needs of people who are underserved by traditional transportation planning and resources.
The CPBST team adapted the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Safe System elements and principles to make it more impactful for grassroots community engagement. Specifically, we emphasize the role of community-based expertise and strengthen collaboration between transportation professionals and communities to create lasting safety and mobility improvements. Within the Safe System framework, the team will: (1) review pedestrian and bicycle crash data and safety strategies; (2) facilitate a walking and biking assessment; (3) strategize with participants to define specific community pedestrian and bicycle safety goals and actionable next steps; and (4) empower participants to strengthen collaborations to implement specific walking and biking safety recommendations.
The CPBST strives for equitable engagement and accessibility. In 2020, the curriculum was adapted for virtual convenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward, CPBST workshops will be offered in-person, online, or hybrid to meet your community’s needs, pursuant to public health guidance.
Learn more: download the 2023 CPBST Fact Sheet: English / Spanish
Upcoming 2023 Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Trainings
This year, the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) Program will partner with 7 communities throughout California to discuss, plan, and implement active transportation safety improvements. Explore our upcoming trainings below!
| Community | Training Date | Flyer |
| Arlanza Elementary School, Riverside | Monday, May 8, 2023 | 830am - 1130am | English | Spanish |
| Westmont High School, Campbell | Monday, May 15, 2023 | 3:15pm - 6:45pm | Download the flyer |
| Arvin | Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 4:00pm - 7:00pm | English | Spanish |
| Bell Gardens | More details coming soon! | |
| Liberty Elementary School, Riverside | More details coming soon! | |
| Menifee | More details coming soon! | |
| Cal Poly, Pomona | More details coming soon! |
Interested in learning more or have questions about the program? Please contact us at safetrec@berkeley.edu.
The series supports communities as they work to implement pedestrian and bicycle transportation safety programming and improvements. For 2023, we hosted sessions on Funding Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety, Media Framing and Advocacy, and Safe Routes to Parks. 