Since 2009, the City of Roseville Safe Routes to School program has been encouraging schools to promote walking and biking as an alternate mode of transportation to school.
Safe Routes to School staff work closely with schools within any Roseville school district to coordinate walking and biking programs including: International Walk and Bike to School Days, Walking Wednesdays (weekly walking clubs using Scan & Notify), Bike Rodeos, safety assemblies, Drop & Walk program, and school safety patrol.
Why walk, bike, or roll to school?
- Improve your family's overall health
- Improve your child's academic achievement and focus during school
- Provide daily physical activity
- Teach your child responsibility and independence
- Provide quality time with you and your child every day
- Reduce traffic congestion and the stress of school drop-offs and pick-ups
What can you do?
- Walk, bicycle, or roll with your child to school at least one day a week, or encourage them to do so with friends.
- If you live far away, use a Drop & Walk location and walk the rest of the way to school
- Teach your child the rules of the road and how to deal with strangers
- If you have traffic safety concerns, talk to your school administrators and City of Roseville Safe Routes to School staff.
Follow these Safe Routes to School tips.
If you're walking or rolling:
- Make yourself visible with brightly colored clothes.
- Always walk on sidewalks. If none are available, walk facing traffic, as far to the left as possible.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Bike in the same direction as traffic.
- Wear a properly fitting helmet.
- Stay alert to your surroundings.
If you’re driving:
- Stay alert and yield to pedestrians.
- Watch your speed in school zones and neighborhoods.
- Be cautious when backing up.
- Never use your phone while driving.
E-bikes and e-scooters are rapidly increasing in popularity since they provide more independence, allowing you to travel farther and faster. But there are important factors to consider before using an e-bike or e-scooter. Follow these helpful tips.
Download the flier
Types of e-bikes
Type 1:
- Pedal-assisted
- 20 mph maximum
- No minimum age
- Allowed wherever regular bicycles are allowed on paved areas and multi-use trails
Type 2:
- Pedal or throttle-assisted
- 20 mph maximum
- No minimum age
- Allowed wherever regular bicycles are allowed on paved areas and multi-use trails
Type 3:
- Pedal-assisted
- This type is a tier below true motorcycles and mopeds
- 28 mph maximum
- Minimum age 16 and must wear a helmet
- Prohibited from multi-use trails unless otherwise specified
- Riders cannot transport passengers
E-scooter laws
California’s law permits anyone over the age of 16, who has a learner’s permit or license, to operate
an e-scooter.
E-scooter riders must know traffic laws, because they must share the road with vehicles.
Users can ride in bike lanes if the posted speed limit is 25 mph or slower.
California law prohibits riding e-scooters on sidewalks and pathways unless marked otherwise.
Safety tips and rules of the road
The same rules of the road for motorists, apply to e-bikes and e-bicyclists (California Vehicle Code,
CVC §21230).
By law, cyclists 17 years and under
must wear a helmet.
Be 100% predictable in your actions.
Be seen—wear bright clothing and/or have reflective gear.
Signal your presence before passing others on any shared roads, paths, trails, or elsewhere.
Watch for possible icy or slippery road conditions.
For the safety of everyone, slow down when passing pedestrians and walkers. What might seem like a slow speed to you, may seem fast to others.
Going too fast can cause unpredictable reactions, increasing the chances of injury.
Is your child experienced enough in:
Taking turns with vehicles at intersections after coming to a complete stop? Scanning before merging onto roads, changing lanes or crossing streets?
Giving pedestrians the right-of-way?
Knowing how to stop abruptly and dodge obstacles without swerving into vehicle lanes?
Maneuvering heavy e-bikes traveling at high speeds that take longer to stop?
The following Safe Routes to School programs can be used at your school to encourage walking and biking. Simply customize the documents to meet your needs.
Active 4 Me (Also referred to as Scan & Notify) uses barcode technology to capture trips to school and computes the impact each trip has on CO2, gas, dollars, and calories. Each student is given a barcode tag and it’s entered into the Active 4 Me database. On program days, a volunteer scans in each student as they arrive, capturing that trip. This data can then be summarized and posted on the school's web site.
An additional service offered with this program is the ability to immediately notify a parent by text, phone, or email that their student has arrived at school.
Learn more: active4.me
International Walk or Bike to School Day: This yearly event is held on the first Wednesday in October. For more information on how your school can participate, contact us.
Weekly Walking and Biking Clubs, also known as Walking Wednesdays or Walking Fridays, this program works in conjunction with Active 4 me. Parents and students from all over the community make a commitment to walk or bike to school on any given day of the week for the entire year! Each student who wants to walk or bike to school receives a barcode tag to keep on their backpack. Once they arrive to school, a parent volunteer scans each tag to track trips to school - making them eligible for prizes.
Check with your school to see if they participate.
A Drop & Walk is an alternative location where parents can drop their students off for school to avoid school parking lot congestion. In addition, Drop & Walks (Or Stop & Walk) promote safe drop off zones and raises driver awareness of student walking.
May is Bike Month is for the whole school -- students, teachers, administration and staff alike! Everyone can log their miles to compete with each other, other classes, grade levels, and even other schools! In addition, May is Bike Month is a regional campaign that promotes safe biking, supports ongoing biking programs in the community, inspires families to bike to school more often, promotes a more active lifestyle, and much more!
Learn more by visiting mayisbikemonth.com.
The Bike Rodeo event provides the opportunity for children to learn the importance of bike safety, how to maintain their bikes, and the opportunity to test their riding skills by going through multiple obstacle courses. In addition, the Bike Rodeo event teaches the importance of always wearing a properly fitting helmet, and promotes a more active lifestyle.
Email to get more information about hosting one at your school.
Enrich our community by volunteering as a Bike/Walk Ambassador! You'll be teaching students and parents how to safely bike to and from school, educating Roseville's trail users on how to Share the Trail, and engage the community at events.
Become a Bike/Walk Ambassador today! For more information email bikewalk@roseville.ca.us.
Ensure your children are riding safely at this free, fun and interactive bike and helmet safety event.
roseville.ca.us/Bikefest
State and National Resources:
National Safe Routes to School Program
Walk to School
Federal Highway Administration
Safe Routes National Partnership -
Snell Memorial Foundation, Helmet Safety
CA Department of Public Health
CA Department of Transportation
America Walks
Megan's Law
Become a crossing guard
Do you enjoy being a role model, helping students, and being outdoors? If so, we want you to help enrich our community as a school crossing guard! You'll be:
- Teaching students and parents how to safely cross the street,
- Encouraging walking and biking to school, and
- Helping reduce traffic around schools.
Call (916) 774-5351 or email us with questions.
Rebecca Espenshade
Email
(916) 746-1300
If you would like our Traffic Study team to evaluate a concern you have, please fill out the
Traffic Studies form and contact us at the phone and email listed above. Be sure to fill out the form
before contacting our Traffic Study team as this will allow them to understand and address the issue in a more timely manner.