Safety Education

Learning how to ride a bike and walk around the neighborhood can be the first exposure someone has to road traffic. The Bicycle Alliance wants to make sure all youth in Washington State can be safe on the road while they gain the freedom and independence that comes with a bike.

The Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program teaches late elementary and middle school students how to ride, the rules of the road, and how to stay safe. Think of it as driver’s education for bikes. The program is supported by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation, and managed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Watch this video about how this program brought bike safety education to Frank’s elementary school students in Tukwila Washington.

To view the curriculum and teaching materials, visit the State Center for Safe Routes to School.

Program Results

As of fall 2014, ~56,000 middle-school students have gone through our program. Another 16,000 learn from it each year. By 2017 we will have reached over 100,000!

As of fall 2014, ~56,000 middle-school students have gone through our program. Another 15,000-16,000 learn from it each year. By 2017 we will have reached over 100,000!

Since 2011, we have provided bicycle and pedestrian safety education to students in 6th through 8th grade in over 40 school districts across the state (view the map of participating school districts). We have reached over 175 teachers who intend to educate over 15,000 students annually.

The project report from January 2013 found that students who went through the program were biking and walking more safely, with large improvements in obeying traffic rules, using hand signals, and wearing helmets. The percent of students who rode to or from school also increased from 2.6% to 3.6%. For more results, read the final report:

Bring Bike Safety Education to Your District

Do you want your school district to teach bike and pedestrian safety skills to the students? We provide training and support to districts so they can teach the curriculum in physical education classes at elementary and middle school. The curriculum teaches important life skills while helping students meet state standards. Let us know if you want this program brought to your school district.