Missouri Bicycle News

One of the most common objections brought against the idea of promoting children walking and bicycling to school is that it is "dangerous".

A recent article in Salon highlighted research that shows the real danger to young pedestrians is in exactly the opposite direction. School administrators had introduced this argument--that walking to school is "dangerous". Safe Routes to School advocates responded by commissioning a study:

[T]he data proved that the real danger was caused not just by drivers, but by drivers during drop-off and pickup times, [and this allowed advocate Glowacz] to argue that the school had to do something to change the situation. "The [liability] focus shifted from kids on bikes to kids being dropped off at school," he said.

Related:

News: Dreadful state of pedestrian accommodations in U.S. documented in 50-mile walk

News: "Sharing the road" in Press Journal

permanent link to article: "Salon article highlights the real danger to children walking to school"
posted by Brent Hugh at 12/15/2004 01:22:09 PM |comment on this article