- Having more students (and parents) walk, bike, and roll to school helps to reduce car traffic congestion. REMEMBER, it takes everyone to improve safety in school areas during busy morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.
- Be aware (not distracted!) and courteous to other drivers, crossing guards, and those using active transportation in the school areas and beyond.
- Make eye contact with those walking, biking, and rolling and communicate with them – windows down is helpful too. Let’s look out for each other and BE PATIENT.
- Follow the basic rules of the road – stop at stop signs and follow the directional cues in the school area. We teach bike riders to be predictable, though young riders sometimes do not make the best decisions and/or may bend to peer pressure. Be alert to their sudden decisions.
- Know that bike riders should be riding in the direction of traffic and should avoid sidewalk riding. Younger riders should ride on sidewalks until their parents say OK. Realize that each driveway is a potential intersection with a car. Bike riders are more visible and expected when they ride on the road.
- Bicyclists are part of traffic, and there are times when a bike may use the full lane. Where there are bike lanes, the riders should be in the bike lane.
- Riders are cautioned to stay out of the ‘door zone,’ but please be aware when opening a car door.
- We ask all bike riders to wear helmets and buckle the straps (it is law!). It takes a village, so if you see a student not wearing a helmet or engaging in unsafe behavior, speak up. If you know the student’s parents, follow up by calling them.
- Please know that passengers are allowed only on ebikes expressly set up for 1 passenger (look for foot pegs near the rear wheel).
- Many of the ebikes are Class 2 – meaning they have a throttle and do not necessarily have to be pedaled. Proceed with caution, realizing that many of these ebikes will start up and go quickly.
- Be PREDICTABLE. Your position on the roadway should communicate your intentions, and you should use your turn and directional signals. At an intersection, use the left lane when turning left, drive in the through lane when going straight and drive in the right turn lane if you turn right.
- Bike riders should be using hand signals – pointing to tell others when & in what direction they are turning. They should signal when they are changing lanes, like moving left for a left turn, pointing with their hand and arm in the direction they are going – left arm for a left turn, right arm for a right turn, and pointing forward if they are going straight.
Have questions and want to talk to someone with Active Transportation/Safe Routes to School experience? Contact Kristine Schindler at kristineschindler7@gmail.com. She is a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) working with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, City of Encinitas, City of Solana Beach and North County schools > Let’s Keep our Streets Safer Together.
