There is growing concern among parents, educators, and organizations about the safety of children who walk or bike to school. With increased traffic congestion around schools, the trend in recent years is fewer students walking and biking to school, which only causes more traffic and discourages children and parents from choosing this healthy activity.
Safe Routes
The Safe Routes program administered through Federal Highway Administration funds and managed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Every elementary, middle, and junior high school in Utah is required to have a safe routes plan, Find Your Safe Routes Utah Map here, which outlines the safest way for students to walk and bike to school. Safe Routes offers schools and parents free resources to create a Safe Routes Map and educate and encourage students about pedestrian safety while walking to and from school, which are available online at Home - Safe Routes Utah Website
- Mapping Software and Planning Guide: For principals and school community councils to create a Safe Routes Map
- Encouragement Activities and Safety Fair Planning Ideas
- PTA Newsletter Articles: Monthly articles highlight walking and biking safety tips
- “Safe Routes Utah, Walk ’n Roll” Live Assembly or DVD: K-6 safety assembly that encourages and motivates students to safely walk and bike to school through original, upbeat music
- “Walk More in Four” Challenge: Annual K-8 walk-to-school challenge during September (corresponds with Green Ribbon Month) encourages students to walk at least 60% of the time and chart their progress to be entered into a drawing for donated prizes
- Teacher Lesson Plan and Student Activity Booklet: K-6 interactive lesson plans to teach safe walking and biking and a student activity booklet that includes take-home games, puzzles, and information to share with parents and families
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
- Walk with your child in your neighborhood and identify and talk about the walking conditions (good or bad)
- Ask your principal for a copy of your schools’ Safe Route Utah Map and walk the safe route with your child
- As you walk, ask yourself these questions:
- Are there places for people to walk (or for children to bicycle) off the street?
- Are there places to cross streets easily and safely?
- Are there crossing guards near schools?
- Are the drivers courteous? Do they obey speed limits?
- Was your walk pleasant? Would you do it again?
- Teach your child the rules of the road and how to follow your school’s Safe Routes Utah Map.
- Walk with your child to and from school.
- As a driver, set an example by slowing down, give pedestrians the right of way when crossing the street, share the road with bicyclists, obey speed limits (especially in neighborhoods where children play) and be extra careful in school zones.
- If public transit is available in your area, use it with your child when practical.
THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH OTHER PARENTS
- Talk with your neighbors about the problems you see. They may want changes, too. Find others in your community who are concerned with child safety: school principal, school community council, school safety committee, city traffic engineers, police, school district transportation directors, etc.
- Write letters to your newspaper and speak up at public meetings for: playgrounds near homes so kids can play out of streets and parking areas; traffic calming improvements to slow down traffic on neighborhood streets, including traffic circles, speed bumps, and other engineering methods; construction of sidewalks, or bike/pedestrian paths; a Neighborhood Watch program, if needed.
- If playgrounds are being used for other activities, work with community groups to make them child friendly.
- Request any of Safe Routes Utah free resources for your school by email.
- Encourage your school to participate in Green Ribbon Month and Safe Routes Utah Walk More in Four Challenge in September.
- Participate in Walk-Your Child to School Day (information available from your local Health Department).
- Form a neighborhood walking school bus, or bike train, and have parents alternate turns taking children to and from schools.