As Schools and Families “gear up” for back to school, many students will be planning their biking and walking routes.
For students who live close enough, riding a bike or walking to school is a great way to start the day with some fresh air and exercise. It is fun and it helps promote a healthy active lifestyle.
Schools can help encourage this healthy practice by letting families know they have implemented important safety measures.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
Communicate with your staff, students and families
- Provide students and staff with information on biking safety. (See resources at the end of this article.)
- Encourage all riders to wear helmets.
- Anticipate biking routes through parking lots. Place extra orange cones, directional signs or have volunteers available to direct bikers to designated routes.
- Remind bikers to walk their bike through congested areas and on school sidewalks.
- Provide extra storage for bikes in an area where they will not create a hazard.
Is your community bike and pedestrian friendly?
- Raise awareness in the community of the first day of school and the increased number of walkers and kids on bikes during their morning commute.
- Keep sidewalks clear. Encourage the use of bike paths and bike lanes.
- Students can make posters promoting “share the road” and “watch for bikes” safety messages to post around town at the library, community buildings and area businesses.
- Contact your local news crew or have the school newspaper write articles for publication for back-to-school safety.
Communicate with your municipality
- Determine if bikers and walkers need additional assistance with extra staffing, crossing guards or police patrols.
- Identify challenging intersections near school.
- Consider the use of electronic signs to remind drivers to slow down and watch for students heading back to school.
