Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training Program (CPBST)

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 2023, SafeTREC and Cal Walks have conducted 126 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 Public Engagement and Policy Lead Katherine Chen, "Community Engagement: Pivoting active transportation community engagement planning during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Explore our interactive map of the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (CPBSP) 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. 

CPBST Interactive Map 2018
View a web accessible, text version of the CPBSP Interactive Map.

The CPBST team reviews the program and its impact on a regular basis. Please see below for a list of recent follow-up surveys and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the CPBST:

About the CPBST

A Planning Committee drawing from local residents, schools, agencies and other safety partners is recruited for each community we work with to plan the CPBST workshop. During the workshop, the Project Team reviews local crash data and the community’s traffic safety experiences, educates participants on pedestrian and bicycle safety best practices, guides participants on a walking and biking safety assessment, and culminates in identifying actionable next steps. The CPBST is committed to equitable and accessible 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.   

Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Trainings 2017

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: (1) reviews pedestrian and bicycle crash data and safety strategies; (2) facilitates a walking and biking assessment; (3) strategizes with participants to define specific community pedestrian and bicycle safety goals and actionable next steps; and (4) empowers participants to strengthen collaborations to implement specific walking and biking safety recommendations. 

Upcoming 2024 Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Trainings

This year, the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) Program will partner with five communities throughout California to discuss, plan, and implement active transportation safety improvements. Explore our upcoming trainings below!

Applications are now closed for the 2024 CPBST program. Thank you to all who applied for your time and interest in the program. If you would like more information about the program, or have questions, please contact us at cpbst@berkeley.edu

Community

Training Date

Flyer

Kingsburg (Fresno County)

May 2024

San Bernardino (San Bernardino County)

May 2024

Jurupa Valley (Riverside County)

June 2024

San Diego (San Diego County)

July/August 2024

Southeast Bakersfield (Kern County)

August

Technical Assistance and Resources

We are offering follow-up support to former CPBST sites! 

This year, we will be providing follow-up support to threeformer CPBST sites in California to support their community’s implementation of programs, projects, and recommendations outlined in their community action plan. We will partner with these communities in two overarching areas: strengthening data-driven narratives and community leadership and capacity strengthening. 

  • Altadena (Los Angeles County)

  • El Sereno (Los Angeles County

  • Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara County)

To learn more about follow-up support, please contact us at cpbst@berkeley.edu


2024 Peer Exchange Series

This year we were excited to again host our virtual Peer Exchange Series program! The series supports communities as they work to implement pedestrian and bicycle transportation safety programming and improvements. Sessions included:

Building a Collaborative and Equitable Transportation Vision with Decision-Makers
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 

Cultivating Youth Leadership in Transportation Spaces
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 

Learn more about the 2024 Peer Exchange Series and access presentations slides and session summaries from prior year sessions on the Peer Exchange Series webpage.


Safe Systems Strategies for Bicyclists and Pedestrians ToolkitTable of strategies for improving bicyclist safety

UC Berkeley SafeTREC is excited to share the Safe Systems Strategies for Bicyclists and Pedestrians Toolkit, which provides a starting point for anyone looking to plan a bikeable and walkable community. It lists potential community improvements that can help create a safer community with the Safe System Approach. 

We’ve created a table of potential community improvements that can help you create a safer community with the Safe System Approach. There are many ways to plan a bikeable and walkable community; this toolkit is just a starting point. 

Download the full Toolkit.


Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.