North Park Middle School

Safety Guidelines when Walking/Riding your Bike

When Walking to and from School:

Ø      Try and walk to school with other students. Develop a buddy system for walking to and from school. Students should avoid walking alone. Always walk in groups with at least two or three other students. If possible, parents or guardians should accompany the student.

Ø      Avoid talking to strangers. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Look to see who's in front and behind you. Students should report anyone suspicious to school personnel or the police. If someone follows you or bothers you, scream for them to get away from you and run to the nearest house or store for help.

Ø      Never get into a vehicle with anyone. Don't accept rides with strangers or distant acquaintances.

Ø      If someone in a vehicle asks for directions, keep back far enough where you can't be grabbed.

Ø      If you feel you are being followed, cross the street or go the other way. Walk towards people.

Ø      If you are being followed by a vehicle, turn and run in the opposite direction. The driver will have to turn around before he can continue following you.

Ø      Use the same route every day and never use shortcuts.

Ø      Avoid short cuts such as parking lots, alleys, or parks.

Ø      Always use public sidewalks and streets when walking to school.

Ø      Demonstrate traffic safety awareness and pick the safest route between your home and the school.

Ø      Recognize and obey traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings.

Ø      Only cross streets at designated crosswalks, street corners and traffic controlled intersections.

Ø      Always look both ways before crossing the street and never enter streets from between obstacles like parked cars, shrubbery, signs, etc.

Ø      Always walk and never run across intersections.

 Riding you Bike to School:

Ø      Obey the rules of the road; the rules are the same for all vehicles, including bicycles.

Ø      Always stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as traffic.

Ø      Choose the safest route between home and school.

Ø      Use safety gear. Safety gear can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 85 percent.

Ø      If possible, try to ride with someone else. There is safety in numbers.