Advisory Committee

• We began by examining traditional barriers that have prevented schools from allowing elementary students to ride their bikes to schools.
• We reviewed policies of neighboring schools and districts
• We established criteria of what would be considered safe or unsafe routes to school

The committee utilized a wide-ranging catalog of resources to inform the K-5 policy. Among the resources used to help generate the policy were:

• Washington Administrative Codes (WACs) and Revised Codes of Washington (RCWs)
• Washington State laws that pertain to the use of bicycles on public roads
• Existing policies and procedures from neighboring districts and schools
• Recommendations from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC)
• Traffic and commuting data for Snohomish and King County
• Bicycle and Pedestrian facility definitions as determined by King and Snohomish County
• Information regarding recommendations for age appropriateness and other safety components from organizations such as Cascade Bicycle Club and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
• Articles and recommendations from the following organizations: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH).
• Information from various community and specialized organizations that sponsor and promote biking to school such as the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and UNC Highway Safety Board

The committee established criteria that would maximize student safety including:

• Training requirements
• Age
• Application process

• 25 mph speed limit for surrounding roads
• Sidewalks
• On-Road or separately marked bike lanes
• Off-road Bike Trails
• 3' Asphalt & Concrete shoulders
• 4'+ Asphalt & Concrete shoulders
• Flashing Beacon Crosswalks
• Marked Crosswalks

A comprehensive response to the question “can my child ride his/her bike to school” includes:

• A detailed application packet for families
• Detailed maps for all schools that can be used to inform families about potentially ideal routes or possible hazards
• Resources for each school that are accessible for families and staff