Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Back-to-School Season Brings Bike-to-School Bans

As schools across the country open their doors for another year, Robert Ping of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership says students are increasingly facing "bans" against walking and biking to campus. Network member BikePortland.org reports:

229710.jpgIn Portland, fears of liability turned Safe Routes to School to "Safer Routes." Photo: BikePortland.org

"It’s pervasive throughout the country and we’re hearing about it moreand more,” [Ping] said. The problem, according to Ping, is that many schoolprincipals and administrators feel that biking and walking to school issimply unsafe. They are concerned about being held liable for anythingthat happens during the trip to and/or from school.

In addition to studying the current scope of the problem, the SafeRoutes National Partnership is putting together a team of legal expertswho will craft a legal statement directed at school principals,outlining why improving biking and walking options will not increasetheir liability exposure. They hope the legal statement will also helpallay the fears that lead to bike ban policies in the first place.

Though, as Ping points out, principals can't actually stop students from walking and biking, they can use their influence to discourage it. Administrators can also deny students a decent place to store their bikes during the school day. But if the issue is safety and liability, what about those high school parking lots?

Ping said one safe routes advocate he heard from countered a bike banin their community by asking the principal whether or not he feltliable for kids who drive to school. “That’s a great way to push backon this idea.”

In a somewhat related post featured on the Network today, Car Free With Kids sings the praises of raising a toddler on transit. Also: The Overhead Wire notes light rail progress in Houston, while Streetsblog LA finds controversy over one Metro rail line; Gateway Streets maps "desire paths" in St. Louis's Forest Park; and NY Examiner analyzes another case of motorist-on-cyclist violence, this time in Staten Island.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

U.S. DOT Moves to Rescind Billions for ‘Woke’ Transportation on Feb. 18 — So Advocates Must Speak Up Now

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has promised to call on Congress to slash vast funding for climate and DEIA.

February 14, 2025

Friday Video: Catch the Green Wave

Even the Times loves it.

February 14, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Pressure on City Hall Edition

The MTA needs more and more money from the city — is Mayor Adams too distracted to ensure New York City gets bang for its buck? Plus more news.

February 14, 2025

ACE In The Hole: MTA’s Bus-Mounted Cameras Nab Over 400K Bus Stop Blockers

Bus enforcement cameras are working way better than cops.

February 13, 2025

City E-Bike Swap Program Uses Bikes from Fly, a Company With Safety Violations

A Streetsblog investigation found Fly, a popular e-bike and moped vendor, has consistently skirted city regulations, but now the company is at the heart of the city's first e-bike trade-in program.

February 13, 2025
See all posts