Pedestrian safety is an integral component of the Safe Routes to School program.

The Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC) and the Alliance for Community Traffic Safety in Oregon (ACTS Oregon) have partnered with the BTA to teach children, and adults in the community how to share the responsibility of safety on community streets.

We teach the children through classroom activities and community walkabouts. We reach community adults and parents through neighborhood association, PTA and other meetings. Students learn to be responsible pedestrians who follow traffic rules and regulations. Adults learn what to expect in pedestrian areas, particularly in school zones and other areas where children tend to be.

The in-school program is delivered to  2nd and 3rd graders. It incorporates physical education, health, and social responsibility. The goal is to provide students with the background information and hands on practice to safely walk on urban streets, be able to choose appropriate routes for walking, and know how to recognize and respond to an unsafe situation.

Our 2-3 hour in-class program is divided into two groupings of two sessions each. The first “grouping” is one in-class session (45 minutes) followed a week later with one walk about (45 minutes). The second “grouping” is in the spring with another class session (45 minutes) followed by a community walk about (45 minutes).

Classroom lessons include:

• Crossing the street safely
• Pedestrian rules of the road
• Personal responsibility
• Correct use of crosswalks and traffic signals
• Identification of safe and unsafe routes
• Understanding intersections
• Walking with friends and parents

The Community Walk Abouts include:

• Safe practices
• Identification of safe and unsafe routes
• Walking with friends, parents
• Intersection safety

Objectives:

• Convey the importance of basic rules to ensure pedestrian safety
• Increase knowledge of rules of the road and dangers associated with sharing the road system to ensure safety when walking along neighborhood streets.
• Provide sufficient on-street practice so every student understands intersection safety and feels comfortable walking on neighborhood streets.

Community Presentation

The Community Presentations address three groups of people who also use the streets in and around the school community neighborhood:

1. Teachers / Parents
2. PTA / Site Council
3. Neighborhood Association

Topics of the 20-30 minute presentation include:

• School-zone and cross walk legislation
• Rational for speed zones
• Responsibilities of drivers and pedestrians

In addition to the classes and training we provide curriculum ideas and ongoing teaching resources for teachers and pedestrian tips and reinforcement ideas for parents.

For more information about Pedestrian Safety Education programs contact Lynne Mutrie, Safe Routes to School Statewide Programs and Curriculum Manger, (503) 226-0676 x18.