Back to school is a great time for your students to begin new routines. We recommend including tips for students to get to school using active transportation in your return to school plan. In addition to highlighting the importance of daily physical activity, inspiring your students to use active transportation to get to school includes the following benefits:
- Students show up to school ready to learn.
- Higher student achievement and academic performance.
- Less traffic and better air quality around the school.
- Having fun time to connect with friends and family built into the day.
Share the following tips with parents and students so everyone feels confident and safe using active transportation methods on the school commute.
Walkers & Bikers
- Plan the route to and from school and test it before school starts. Make it a relaxing and fun family event by including a trip to the playground or a favorite park along the way. In this way, there will be no rush to meet the school bell and you will have time to recognize, assess, and discuss skills needed or issues encountered along the route as a family.
- Think bright and light when dressing for the school commute. Wear clothing and jackets in bright colors with reflective materials for added visibility for drivers, bicyclists, and other pedestrians.
- Consider using a backpack with a padded back and wide straps for extra comfort.
- Start a Walking School Bus or Bike Train in your neighborhood. Connect with other parents along the route and work together or rotate who will supervise the students during the commute.
Bus riders
- When waiting for the school bus, stand at least six feet away from the curb, and stay out of the street.
- Wait until the bus is fully stopped with the doors open before boarding.
- Before boarding the bus, look both ways and wait until all other vehicles have stopped fully. Then once the bus driver has given the signal to board, proceed to board the bus.
- When crossing the Street to board the bus, wait until all vehicles are fully stopped, make eye contact with the bus driver and when they signal it is okay to cross the street, cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus in view of the bus driver. Once across the street, wait for the bus driver to open the bus doors and give the signal to board the bus.
Private Cars/Carpools
- Make it a priority to ensure students arrive to school safely.
- When driving, stay calm, proceed with caution, avoid distractions, be aware of your surroundings, and look out for other students on their school commute.
- Put away cell phones and ensure the radio volume is low so that you can hear students around your vehicle.
- Be aware of the rules at the school drop-off area regarding speed limits, bus warnings, and no parking/standing.
- To reduce congestion around the school, consider a remote drop-off location. Identify a safe place to park your vehicle where you can walk a short distance to school with your student. You’ll get the benefits of the walk, less traffic to navigate, and reduced emissions directly around the school.
Promoting active transportation options at the school and/or district level is important at the administrative level too:
- Include information about active travel options on the school website and at fall orientation. Highlight walking routes, bike trains, bike racks, walking school buses, remote drop-off locations, changes to bus stops, and school drop-off procedures.
- Share any maps, routes, Safe Routes to School program tips, and other pertinent information on the school website, via email, and/or in school newsletters.
- Set an example by supporting staff that walk or bike to school.
- Encourage staff to lead a walking school bus, and lift up staff as featured community champions when joining a walking route for special walking or biking days.
- Create a school safety pledge. Encourage families to pledge that they will be safe drivers, walkers, or bicyclists, including obeying all traffic laws and also taking every possible precaution to ensure their safety as well as the safety of all other students.
Creating a climate of respect and cooperation for the various active transportation modes students use to get to school will help to keep students safe and out of harm’s way.