Viva Vitality: Commuting safely to school

By Andrea Klassen on September 5, 2025.

School is back in session, which means school zones are active once again. In many communities, these have transitioned to year-round playground zones. For those who haven’t, it’s a good reminder to slow down and stay alert for the increased presence of pedestrians, cyclists and school buses.

If you have school-aged children who bike to school, ensure they understand proper hand signals for navigating roadways and are following traffic signs and laws. By law, anyone under the age of 18 must wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.

Before your child heads off to school, check the ABCs of their bicycle:

A is for Air

– Squeeze the tires to ensure they’re firm. The recommended PSI is usually listed on the tire sidewall.

– Look for damage such as cracks, bald spots or loose threads that could lead to air loss or require replacement.

B is for Brakes

– Squeeze the brake levers to confirm they engage properly and stop the wheels when the bike is pushed forward or backward.

– Ensure there’s a gap between the lever and handlebars, and that the lever snaps back into position when released.

C is for Chain, Crank and Cables

– Make sure the chain moves freely, isn’t rusty, and doesn’t hang too low or make odd noises when pedalling backward.

– Wiggle the crank arms (where the pedals attach) to check for side-to-side movement.

– Inspect all cables for kinks or breaks.

If your child walks to school, talk to them about staying alert, and review these pedestrian safety tips:

– Wear bright-coloured clothing to increase visibility, especially on dim mornings or in poor weather.

– Avoid distractions like phones or headphones, especially when crossing roads or railways.

– Stick to sidewalks and use marked crosswalks.

– Look in all directions before crossing streets, roadways or railways.

– Review the safest walking route with your child. If they commute alone, walk the route with them beforehand to build confidence.

Even though the speed limit is reduced to 30 km/h in school and playground zones, children should remain vigilant and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.

If your child rides the school bus, remind them to look both ways before crossing the street to board. Even if the bus’s stop sign is extended and lights are flashing, they should confirm that all vehicles have stopped. Children should never run after a bus; school bus drivers may not see them.

These simple tips can help ensure your child travels safely to and from school, contributing to an injury-free school year.

Andrea Klassen is a health promotion facilitator with Primary Care Alberta’s Population Health Promotion Program