Resources

The Importance of Bike Helmets and Proper Fit

As a bike educator for the past 23 years with the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and Y2K Engineering, the first question I get from students when I start to talk about bike helmets is, “Why do I have to wear this?” Even if students and their families wear helmets when they ride bikes, they often display bad habits when it comes to wearing them properly.

In this article, I’m going to discuss why it’s important to wear bike helmets and review what riders (especially student riders) need to look out for when properly fitting and wearing a helmet.

Finding Funding and Resources to Promote & Encourage Safe Routes to School

From 2001 through 2021, I worked for the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department as the School Safety Coordinator. I spent a lot of my time finding ways to promote and encourage Safe Routes to School. With over 500 K-12 schools, it was more than a full-time job! Finding available funding and other resources was often a roadblock I had to overcome. Over the years, I learned what was available and found help from other government sources and outside agencies. I became the conduit between my program and what these entities could provide. I discovered that these agencies provided funding and materials that helped me promote my Safe Routes to School Program.

In this article, I’m going to discuss what funding sources and other resources are available from government entities and other outside agencies that can help you in your quest to promote and encourage Safe Routes to School where you live.

how to encourage more biking to school

Once a child learns to ride a bike, it is their first taste of freedom. It is their first vehicle and they figure out quickly that they have more independence when they ride versus walking. With independence comes responsibility. Since a bicycle is a vehicle, children must learn the rules of the road. They have to follow the same signs and signals that drivers do. They should practice what side of the road to ride on and how to navigate when they are riding with traffic. Once they learn these steps, they are ready to ride to school.

Unfortunately, with the speed and volume of drivers on the road these days, parents and even schools and school districts are reluctant to promote students riding to school. Parents wonder if the roadways from their house are safe enough to allow their children to ride to school. Schools and school districts worry about liability and if there is enough safe space on campus to park bikes. This article will go through some ways to tone down the worry and encourage safe riding to school.

Creating a Safe Routes to School Committee for Your School

After 20 years as the School Safety Coordinator for the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department, I found that forming a Safe Routes to School Committee helps schools review these issues and find the best solutions. Click on the link below to learn more about Creating a Safe Route to School Committee.

What to do About Pick-Up and Drop-Off Issues at School?

Now that school has started, one of the biggest issues for school administrators always tends to be pick-up and drop-off traffic in the school parking lot and surrounding streets. Click on the link below to learn more about what you can do to avoid pick-up and drop-off issues.

Coordinate and Enhance Your Walk to School Day Events

Click on the link below to learn more about why Walk to School Day is an important event, especially as driving to school becomes more common and walking to school fades into obscurity.