No matter how your student gets to school – biking, walking, or riding in a car – we want them to arrive safely. We’ve created a visual quiz covering unsafe school-zone behavior. Not only is this a good quiz for both students and parents, but it’s great to take it together.
Once you think you’ve identified the dangerous behaviors in the first image, scroll down to see the answers.
Walking, biking, skating, and scooting are great ways to get to school. An active commute to start the day sets students up for a safe, healthy, and on-time start for a successful new year of school.
Healthy Bodies & Healthy Communities
Most of us know that walking or biking to school provides great exercise for students by building strong bones and muscles and improving cardiovascular health. But the benefits of walking and biking also extend to the entire neighborhood and surrounding community.
Walks through the neighborhood give neighbors the chance to meet, greet and look out for each other. When neighbors see other families’ children walking to school, feelings of security can increase and create a snowball effect of more students walking together in groups (How to Form a Walking School Bus). Plus, with fewer cars on the road, air quality improves and traffic congestion lessens.
Safe & Healthy Habits
Studies are showing that children who are active on a regular basis tend to become active adults. Building a routine of walking or biking to school each day is one way to ingrain exercise as a normal, daily activity for a lifetime. (Your children will thank you for instilling exercise as a way of life when they’re older!)
Teach your children how to walk and bike safely. Plan – and practice – a safe route to and from school. Learning to navigate the environment is an important part of growing up, and walking to school builds independence, character, and decision making skills.
Many parents feel uneasy allowing students to walk for fear of kidnapping or attack. While actual statistics show these occurrences are extremely rare, it is important to talk with children about what to do in an emergency. Some parents feel safer walking with their children and also enjoy the benefits of exercise and shared quality time. Getting to know neighbors along the route also gives students plenty of support options between home and school, if needed.
Have a great 2018-19 school year, from Street Smarts Diablo.
Lots of students participated in today’s Walk and Roll to School Day at Sequoia Middle School. Although it rained all night in Pleasant Hill, the skies cleared just in time for the students’ human-powered commute to campus. It’s a good reminder that rain shouldn’t discourage you from walking or rolling to school!
Not only did lots of students arrive by foot, bike and scooter, we also had great event partners helping us with the event. Pleasant Hill Mayor Michael Harris walked to campus, chatted with students and even took the blender bike for a spin. Lisa Chow, from District IV Supervisor Karen Mitchoff’s office, helped pass out prizes and raffle tickets, while CHP Officer Brandon Correia attended in support of safe biking and walking activities.
We were thrilled to present Sequoia Middle School Vice Principal Lisa Keck a matching $250 donation for being a winner in last spring’s Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s ‘Fire Up Your Feet Challenge’. Way to go, Giants!
Street Smarts Diablo offers bicycle and pedestrian safety and encouragement programs at no cost to public schools in Central and East Contra Costa County. If you want us to lead an assembly at your school or help you put on a Walk & Roll to School Day, contact our Program Coordinator.
Good news for Pittsburg High School students! Safer pedestrian access is now available on the East side of Railroad Avenue. Sidewalks have re-opened on the corner of California and Railroad at the “Kiss and Ride” area.
Additionally, the sidewalk on the east side of the overpass (at the entrance to the BART Park & Ride) is open. Students will be able to access the crosswalks and signal buttons.
