City Of Palo Alto: Slow Your Roll As Students Ease Back Into School

Press release from the City of Palo Alto:

August 10, 2021

Palo Alto’s public middle and high schools begin on Wednesday, August 11, and elementary schools on Thursday, August 12. With over 65% of PAUSD students walking or biking to school, a large number of students that committed to full distance learning during the pandemic will be navigating on foot or on bikes to new schools under normal traffic volumes for the first time in over a year. As you make your way on our roads this week, please slow down, be aware, and be patient so that the first week of school is as safe as possible for children, parents, and educators settling into their new school commutes.

Safe Routes to School Life Skills Activities

The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School program coordinates bicycle and pedestrian safety education for PAUSD families. The program offers a range of educational material for all students and parents to explore.

• Palo Alto Walk and Roll Suggested Route Maps
• Biking from Preschool to Parenthood
• Grade 4-7 Street Smart Lego Bike Safety Presentation
• 3rd Grade Bicycling Life Skills Lesson PowerPoint
• 5th Grade PowerPoint Biking to Middle School
• 6th 7th Grade PowerPoint without Narrative (Video)
• 6th 7th Grade PowerPoint Grade Quiz
• 8th Grade Presentation with Narrative
• 8th Grade PowerPoint without Narrative

Safe Routes to School is part of a national movement targeting improved safety and active transportation choices for families and communities. The mission of the local City / Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) / Parent-Teacher Association Safe Routes to School (PTA SRTS) community partnership is to reduce risk to students en route to and from school, and to encourage more families to choose healthy, active, sustainable alternatives to driving solo more often. Learn more about Safe Routes to School.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

City/School Transportation Safety Committee (CSTSC) Meeting - August 26, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The CSTSC is composed of community members, City of Palo Alto staff and Palo Alto Unified School District staff who serve in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the Superintendent on matters relating to student traffic safety. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Join the Zoom meeting at the scheduled time or call in using the provided phone number, (669) 900-6833, and Meeting ID, 928 0951 8171.

This press release was produced by the City of Palo Alto. The views expressed here are the author’s own.