JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – To mark International Walk to School Day, a Duval County school came up with a unique idea to teach students safe pedestrian skills while promoting physical activity by walking or biking to school.
Students at Hendricks Avenue Elementary School got a very visual and hands-on lesson on road safety.
More than 50 students and a few parents rode bikes to school in what is called the “Bike Bus.” A good portion of the ride was down San Jose Boulevard and ended at the school’s back gate.
The parents had neon vests that said “Bike Bus” on the back along with flashing lights. Students learned the rules of the road and how to stay safe while riding bikes.
Two parents came up with this idea.
They made a few stops at designated areas within a mile of the school to pick up other riders, and they all biked to school together.
Parents, kids and even the principal of the school said this is a way to exercise while learning safety tips on the roads in a fun way.
“Always paying attention to their surroundings. Looking around, making sure that they are wearing their helmet, their proper gear. Making sure that they are staying with their siblings. I do have older to eat younger. Making sure that they are staying together, close knit and making sure that they are taking those precautions to be safe,” Jacarie Roy, a parent, said.
In addition to bike riders, there are a lot of kids who walk to school.
News4JAX spoke with some of them, who said some of the things they’ve learned from their parents and at school to be safe while walking near roads like San Jose Blvd.
“I look right and left when I walk crossing the street,” Audrey, a 3rd grader, said.
“I make sure that there are no cars when it is time to cross,” Lily, a 3rd grader, said.
As far as the Bike Bus, one of the parents who created it said he was pleased with the turnout for the first Bike Bus ride.
He hopes they can make this a weekly event, possibly on Fridays.