Resources: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
The ability to walk and bicycle safely are important life skills. 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 their children learn safety skills and the importance of obeying speed limits and yielding to pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Marin County Bicycle Coalition Safe Routes to School Lesson Plans
- These lesson plans, developed by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition in 2003, are designed to teach safe walking and biking practices to children in grades K-8.
- Maryland Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program
- Developed by Rockville Department of Recreation and Parks through a grant from the Maryland State Highway Administration's Highway Safety Office, the Maryland Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program is a comprehensive set of lessons for K-5. The program emphasizes practicing skills such as safe street crossing and bicycle riding, with each year building on skills and concepts introduced in previous years.
- Portland “Kids on the Move” and “Smart Moves” Safety Curriculum
- This curriculum, designed by the Portland Office of Transportation, is composed of 25 lessons designed to involve students (grades K-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
- Safe Routes Nebraska recently formulated several standards-based activities to help students learn about walking and biking safety and the importance of staying active. These creative activities were designed to teach students in each grade level to understand the health benefits of walking and biking to school as well as how to do it safely.
- "Step to Safety with ASIMO" children’s pedestrian safety DVD/video
- The National Safety Council and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center are pleased to join Honda in offering a free copy of this DVD geared to students ages five to nine. During the 14-minute program, students discover safe and responsible street crossing steps that will educate and entertain them as they develop important pedestrian safety skills and learn to make smart safety decisions. Suggested activities and questions are also included.
- WalkSmart/BikeSmart Vermont!
- This curriculum, developed by the Center for Health and Learning, is divided into two sections: a pedestrian safety program for K-2 students and a bicycle safety program for students in grades 2-6. The lessons are designed to keep children actively engaged, utilize their own experience and encourage safe and healthy choices.
