Only 9.6 percent of children who live within one-half mile of the school walk and/or bike to school in the morning. This number increases to 16.1 percent in the afternoon. MnDOT’s “Walk / Bike Zone” concept states that a distance of one-half mile is an appropriate distance for children to walk and / or bike to school in grades PreK through Fifth. Glyndon-Felton Elementary School serves grades Kindergarten through Fifth.
Safety factors, such as traffic speed and volume were chosen more frequently than crime or violence as barriers to children walking or biking to school.
RECOMMENDATIONS EDUCATION Goal: Establish at least two educational programs a year to foster and teach bicycle and pedestrian safety within the community. 1.
Facilitate an annual bicycle rodeo event to teach bicycle skills and safety to students.
2.
Educate students about proper walking and bicycling etiquette through in-school and after-school bicycle and pedestrian safety education. a.
If not existing, establish an after-school club.
b. Utilize the Walk! Bike! Fun! Curricula to help students understand the rules of the road. c. 3.
Identify the need for a bicycle fleet.
Develop a school district safety campaign to build awareness of students walking and bicycling to and from school, and to encourage safe driving behavior among parents, high school students and passersby.
4.
Design a parent workshop to provide tools, resources and support needed to encourage parents and other community members to begin walking and bicycling for transportation.
5.
Create a family-oriented educational training program that builds upon the school safety campaign (#3) such as a family biking class and/or family biking guide to teach basic bicycle maintenance, safety checks, etc.
Executive Summary | P a g e 11
