Resources: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
The ability to walk and bicycle safely is an important life skill. Any program that encourages walking and bicycling should also incorporate safety education. In order for children to adopt new skills, they need supervised practice time and repeated reinforcement of the key messages. In other words, a one-time pedestrian or bicycle safety activity in the classroom does not provide children adequate time to learn. Many of the pedestrian and bicycle safety education programs listed here offer age-appropriate lessons and practice time and all are freely downloadable. While these resources are all for teaching children, parents and drivers also need reminders about how to help children learn safety skills and the importance of obeying speed limits and yielding to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Bicycle Transportation Alliance of Portland - Pedestrian Safety Education Curriculum
Funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation, the two lessons are designed for 2 nd grade students and provide an introduction and reinforcement of pedestrian safety knowledge and skills.
Center for Health and Learning - WalkSmart/BikeSmart Vermont!
This curriculum is divided into two sections: a pedestrian safety program for grade K to 2 students and a bicycle safety program for students in grades 2 to 6. The lessons are designed to keep children actively engaged, utilize their own experience and encourage safe and healthy choices.
Marin County Bicycle Coalition - Safe Routes Curriculum
These lesson plans, developed in 2003, are designed to teach safe walking and bicycling practices to children in grades K to 8.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum
The curriculum teaches and encourages pedestrian safety for students grades K to 5. It is organized into five cumulative lessons: walking near traffic, crossing streets, crossing intersections, parking lot safety, and school bus safety.
Portland Office of Transportation - Portland Kids on the Move and Smart Moves Safety Curriculum
This curriculum is composed of 25 lessons designed to involve students (grades K to 5) in both classroom and active/hands-on learning. Lessons focus on basic pedestrian, bicycle, and motor-vehicle occupant safety and to encourage children to walk and ride bicycles as a regular means of transportation.
Safe Routes Nebraska - Safe Routes in the Classroom
Several educational standards-based activities are included to help students learn about walking and bicycling safety and the importance of staying active. These activities were designed to teach students from grades K to 8 to understand the health benefits of walking and bicycling to school as well as how to do it safely.
