Tips for Safe Walking and Biking

Encouraging students to walk and bike to school builds independence, health, and confidence—but safety must come first.

Download a one-page PDF with safety tips

WHY IT MATTERS

Over 8,000 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2022, and 140,000 were injured in crashes.
For children ages 5–19, pedestrian injuries are the 5th leading cause of injury-related death.

Middle Schoolers are a High-Risk Group

Children ages 10–14 experience nearly 20,000 pedestrian injuries annually.
Injury rates increase as kids gain independence but may lack full awareness.

This is the critical age to build safe habits.

TEACH (AND MODEL) SAFE CROSSING BEHAVIOR

Most child pedestrian fatalities (~62%) happen mid-block—not at intersections.
Stick to safe routes: Walking on sidewalks and crossing at designated areas reduces risk significantly.

Key habits:

Cross at corners or crosswalks
Look left–right–left
Make eye contact with drivers

BIKE SMART: GEAR AND RULES MATTER

While biking offers independence, it also requires awareness and equipment.

Reminders:

Always wear a helmet
Ride with traffic, not against it
Follow the same rules as cars (stop signs, signals)

Confidence + predictability = safer riders.

TIME OF DAY MATTERS

36% of child pedestrian deaths occur between 3–7 PM—right after school hours.
Evening/dusk visibility significantly increases risk.

After-school activities = higher risk window.

Encourage:

Bright or reflective clothing
Bike lights and reflectors

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

Distraction is a growing factor in crashes for both pedestrians and drivers.

Encourage:

“Phones down, heads up” when walking or biking.
Limiting use of headphones to stay aware.

SOURCES AND MORE INFORMATION

Parents and Guardians….Welcome to ‘your’ page of the ‘School in Motion’ website for the Valley Forge Middle School!

The ‘My School in Motion’ program undertaken by GVF, T/E School District and Valley Forge Middle School aims to bring together two important themes in your child’s education: the health and wellness components of walking and biking to school as well as the value of these activities as an alternate mode of transportation. We are educating the next generation of ‘commuters’!

We will post articles, links and educational guidelines within these themes for your education…and to encourage your family’s participation with the whole community. Thanks for your interest and participation!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has studied the relationship between physical activity and student performance and offers recommendations on activity levels for adolescents as well as adults.

The National ‘Safe Routes to School’ program has been a program in existence for over ten years and advocates for safe, compliant routes for children to walk or bike to school. Check out their guidance documents for parents and guardians interested in starting a ‘bike train’ to school…and ‘walking school buses’ - an active way to join spend time with your child and reduce the amount of car traffic near your school.

Check out the resources available through the CDC below.