It’s all about Back-to-School tips

With the return of school here, make sure your Back-to-School style is one of safety.

Bike/Walk Central Florida was featured by WESH in a back-to-school segment with great tips for all pedestrians and bicyclists or parents, kids, teachers and school visitors:

1. Follow the rules of the road. Walk on sidewalks, don’t run into streets, and look both ways before crossing.
2. Plan your school route ahead of time. Test your route out to make your kids aware of potential hazards or safety concerns. If you see some potential safety concerns with the route, then plan for another one. Make sure to select the route with the least amount of street crossings.
3. Say “No” to electronic gadgets. Listening to music, talking on the phone, playing games, and watching videos while walking and crossing streets should be a big no-no. Kids should be focused and very aware of their surroundings for their own safety.
4. Form a walking group. Identify other children in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school.  In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider organizing a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.
5. Wear Protective Gear. In case they ride a bike, scooter or skateboard to school, make sure to have your kids wear a helmet. And, beware of hot conditions and pack a water bottle and necessary sun protection gear.
6. Know important phone numbers of trusted adults for emergency situations. Pack your cell, home and work phone numbers and anyone else who you feel comfortable with taking care of your child in to backpacks. Also, test kids on knowing their home address.
7. Learn Bus Safety Zones. Inform children that they should always walk in front of the school bus so that the bus driver can clearly see them.