Are Your Students Walking or Bicycling?

Are your students walking or bicycling to school this year?

Perhaps your school district has reduced the number of students eligible to ride the school bus in light of budget constraints. Maybe you want your children to get more physical activity. Or, you’re interested in reducing air pollution and traffic congestion in your community. Whatever the reason(s) your kids are walking or bicycling to school, you want them to be safe.

The Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center offers various resources for keeping walkers and bicyclists safe on their journey to and from school:

What is Safe Routes to School Provides background information on the Safe Routes to School program, its history, how it is administered in Pennsylvania, and the reasons it is needed.

How to Start an SRTS Program Describes how to start an SRTS program, who can lead the efforts, and how best to sustain the program.

Training The Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center provides the following training in locations around the state:

Bicycle Education This full-day course, offered in September and October, trains adults how to teach safe cycling skills to school-aged children. Participants learn training techniques and are given the hands-on practice necessary to return to their communities and set up similar training geared to youth in their area.

Crossing Guard Training This one-day train-the-trainer class, offered in March and April, teaches adults how to be effective, efficient, and safe crossing guards. Participants learn adult training techniques and are given the hands-on practice necessary to return to their communities and set up similar training for local crossing guards.

Walking School Buses and Bike Trains Provides more information on how schools can establish “walking school buses” and “bike trains.” These organized commutes make regular “stops” along the route to pick up additional children and parents, but unlike buses and cars, are powered by feet, not engines!

Resources Provides a listing of various state and national resources and relevant organizations geared toward walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School.